Xpeng prepares product offensive with two new platforms

According to CEO He Xiaopeng, Xpeng is planning around 30 new and revised models over the next three years. The first electric Xpeng vehicles based on two new platforms are to be launched on the market this year.

This was reported by the CN EV Post portal, citing an internal letter from company boss He Xiaopeng on the occasion of the start of the year following the Chinese New Year. In the document, Xiaopeng warms up the workforce for a busy year and reveals the upcoming product plans. The centrepiece of the plans are two new technology platforms announced for this year, with which Xpeng intends to position electric cars in the price ranges of around 150,000 and over 300,000 yuan. That is the equivalent of around 19,300 and 38,700 euros. Xpeng’s current flagship, the G9, is currently available in China from 263,900 yuan (approx. 34,000 euros).

The company letter also mentions that Xpeng intends to increase its focus on international countries in 2024, with a particular focus on core markets in regions such as Europe, ASEAN, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania. Germany is one of these target markets. This was announced by Xpeng at the recent IAA Mobility. To date, Xpeng has mainly offered its large P7 electric saloon and its G9 electric SUV in northern European countries.

Concerning international expansion, He Xiaopeng states that his company will push ahead with the local customisation of its products, including left-hand and right-hand drive models. The letter to the workforce also states that the company will “embark on a new path of globalisation in terms of products, intelligent driving and branding”. The company boss is not more specific at this point. As is well known, Xpeng is also a partner of Volkswagen. From 2026, two electric mid-range models are to emerge from the cooperation. But this is only in passing.

Other announcements in the New Year’s letter mainly concern investments. For example, Xpeng plans to hire around 4,000 employees this year and increase its research and development budget. Specifically, the R&D pot is to be filled with 3.5 billion yuan in 2024, the equivalent of around 450 million euros. According to He Xiaopeng, development will focus on “intelligent driving”.

cnevpost.com