Xpeng News

The rapid and seemingly unstoppable expansion of Chinese carmakers is something to behold.But is it too far-fetched to think all cars will be Chinese within the next 20 years? Or is it naive not to see it as a strong possibility?For a long time I’ve thought the emergence of new Chinese cars in Australia and globally was the natural progression of the car industry. New brands morph from alternative fledgling brands to mature and established ones. We saw this with Japanese brands such as Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Nissan which gained popularity in the 1960s and ’70s before becoming established go-to brands in the 1980s and ’90s as they fought homegrown heroes Ford and Holden for space in Australia's driveways. And it stayed that way until the first decade of the 2000s ticked over.Holden and Ford’s ranges and sales shrank giving way to the Koreans who filled the gap with Hyundai and Kia which have climbed high into the top 10 thanks to an excellent range of SUVs and EVs.They’re now marching towards the only brands that stand in their way - Mitsubishi, Ford, Mazda and Toyota - which, by the way, have about three EVs between them.And given another five years Kia and Hyundai may have been able to topple Toyota from number one. But it might be too late for that. The presence of a large and fast-growing force is creating major uncertainty for the established brands in the Australian market - the rise and rise of Chinese brands. At the end of 2024 there were 12 Chinese brands operating in Australia and this year we’re expecting at least another seven to arrive. To put that in perspective we currently have a total of 50 car brands in Australia and nine are Japanese. By the end of 2025 the Chinese tally could easily be 20 brands or 30 per cent of Australia's brand make up.Several Chinese brands have been in Australia for years and have already done the hard yards. It took MG a couple of attempts to find a foothold but it was the seventh best-selling brand in 2024, while GWM came in at 10th. LDV is further down but still sold more than 16,000 vehicles here last year.The newer Chinese arrivals show huge promise with most of them offering affordable electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids when the established brands have only a handful among them, usually at higher prices.BYD, Zeekr, Leapmotor, Geely, Deepal, XPeng, Smart, JAC, Aion, Chery and Jaecoo will spend 2025 launching a multitude of new vehicles here. BYD will be one to watch having sold more cars here last year than Mercedes-Benz and it will likely enter the top 10 best sellers next year. Geely, which is the ‘Volkswagen of China’ in terms of its size and how many brands it owns, is another to watch.Chinese car manufacturers' speed of production, the development of new platforms and technology, the low cost of batteries, availability of electronics and the breakthroughs being made in charging systems, plus the sheer amount of money and Chinese government support behind them make competition almost impossible for many other brands.It’s almost certain that some established brands will bow out of Australia, unable to compete with Chinese brands. It’s also feasible that within the next decade more than half the Australian market could be made up of Chinese brands. And surely some Chinese brands won’t be able to cut it here and leave, too.Who could survive? Well, time has shown that even the mighty like Holden have fallen if they don’t make the cars people want to buy. The sheer brute force of Chinese brands being able to offer what people want quickly and at a low price, and at an always improving tech level could be too difficult for many other brands to fight off.In an extreme scenario this could lead to a 100 per cent Chinese brand market within 15 years. Sounds far fetched? Well they’re a third of the way there already.  

Xpeng talks a big game on reviving the sedan and hatch segment with its Tesla Model 3-rivalling Mona M03.

A luxe new EV contender has had a big boost before landing in Australia.

After revealing the new G6 in teaser images, XPeng has detailed its deeply upgraded mid-size electric SUV, revealing its interior ahead of a March launch in China.The 2025 XPeng G6 facelift features a slightly revised exterior with new front lighting, fresh sets of wheels and a mildly tweaked tailgate with a new spoiler alongside a slew of new colour choices, but the biggest upgrades are under the skin and inside.Significant features inside include a larger set of screens, a 10.25-inch digital dash (up from 10.2 inches) and a 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen (up from 15 inches) with additional processing power thanks to a new Qualcomm 8295 processor.Styling wise, the interior features a new design motif, with new pattern-work for the speaker shrouds, while the shape of the steering wheel has also been tweaked.It also features capacitive functions for the steering wheel, a video-capable rear-vision mirror, a new ambient lighting feature, as well as ventilation, heating, and message functions for the front seats.The brand also promises some form of AI-integration and an upgraded array of self-driving technologies in order to rival Tesla’s controversial full self-driving (FSD) suite.Additionally, the standard-range 60kWh battery has been replaced by a 68.5kWh unit, offering an additional 70km of range (according to the CLTC measuring standards). It will maintain its 800-volt architecture, 280kW peak DC charging speed, and corresponding 10 to 80 per cent charge in around 20 minutes.There are further upgrades which are yet to be detailed. The brand’s founder, He Xiaopeng posted to Weibo that more details of the facelifted G6’s touted 81 feature upgrades would be revealed closer to its March launch in China.The car is also said to be physically 34 per cent new, suggesting further yet-to-be-detailed hardware upgrades, with the brand saying “more surprises” were in store for the mid-size SUV.The XPeng G6 only arrived in Australia in late 2024, priced from a keen $54,800 before on-road costs for the entry-level Standard Range.At the time it was an aggressive starting price to rival the Tesla Model Y, but the updated version of that car is set to arrive in Australia later this year starting from $63,400 before on-roads and incentives. Upgraded or not, the new G6 will also have to face new rivals in the form of the Geely EX5, Leapmotor C10, and incoming offerings from GAC.However, Chinese media is also reporting the new car could have a lower entry price than the outgoing version, with information leaked from Chinese dealer sources reportedly suggesting a circa-AU$4500 price cut in its home market. Whether this translates to a similar tweaked pricing structure in Australia remains to be seen.The brand has re-committed to an ongoing 10-year warranty locally, which was initially offered on a promotional basis.XPeng’s local expansion plans are confirmed to include its G9 large SUV and X9 people mover, although whether the P7 sedan and G7 Coupe SUV also join the line-up remains to be seen.

XPeng has only just started delivering its G6 mid-size electric SUV to customer hands, but a major facelift is already set to launch in its home market.

Chinese car maker XPeng has brought back a 10-year warranty on its G6 mid-sized electric SUV, making it one of very few brands offering such long coverage in Australia.

We now know the crucial powertrain details of the incoming XPeng G7, which is poised to land on Australian shores next year.The top-spec G7 will reportedly boast a range of 702km under the more lenient CLTC cycle when it lands in China in April, thanks to a 80.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack produced by China Aviation Lithium Batteries (CALB), according to CarNewsChina.An entry-level variant will carry a smaller 68.5kWh unit, with range dropping to 602km on the CLTC cycle. Both models will carry a single 218kW electric motor, with a more powerful dual-motor, all-wheel drive variant set to arrive later.In terms of dimensions, we already know the G7 will be 4892mm long, 1925mm wide and 1655mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2890mm. That puts it roughly on par with more luxe electric EVs, such as the Polestar 3, BMW iX and Mercedes EQE SUV, although it is unlikely to go anywhere near those models on price.Curb weight will sit at about 2085kg on the entry-level version thanks to a 560kg battery pack, which is considerably heavier than the incoming single-motor Rear Wheel Drive Tesla Model Y, which weighs 1921kg and carries a similarly-sized 62.5kWh battery.That said, the G7 is 100mm longer and 31 mm taller than the Model Y, but just 4mm wider.Despite the brand claiming to be the new “benchmark of luxury” on the EV market, its price will scream more budget-friendly, with CarNewsChina forecasting a price tag of 200,000 Yuan ($43,917).That would put its Australian price around the $55,000 mark, which is more in the realm of a BYD Sealion 7 or Kia EV5, although the G7 is larger than both of them.Further details remain scarce for now, with only exterior images and a few leaked interior shots keeping us occupied.Design wise, the G7 will bear some strong similarities to the incoming Model Y with its full bonnet-width LED light bar, sloping roofline, rear spoiler and flush door handles.Inside, we know the G7 will have a portrait-mounted central touchscreen, along with a smaller digital driver’s display, but that’s about it for now.Expect more information following the G7’s official launch date in China this April.

Chinese electric car brand XPeng has become the latest player to develop plug-in hybrid (PHEV) capability after its latest SUV was spotted testing in China with an exhaust system.The PHEV SUV was captured by CarNewsChina under heavy camouflage, with the Chinese publication claiming the model will utilise XPeng’s new 'Kunpeng Super Electric System' and a petrol engine.Staggeringly, the configuration is claimed to deliver a pure electric range of 430km and a total hybrid range of 1400km — notably under the more lenient CLTC protocol.If true, that blows anything out of the water currently on offer in Australia. At the moment, Australia’s best plug-in hybrid SUV in terms of pure electric range is a toss up between the BYD Sealion 6 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, both of which offer between 80 and 90km of range.The Outlander PHEV carries a 20kWh battery pack, while the Sealion 6 carries a 18.3kWh unit, which suggests the upcoming XPeng PHEV’s battery pack will be significantly larger in size. In fact, it will likely rival that of most mid-range EVs.Better yet, CarNewsChina is reporting that it will offer 800V battery capacity, which would make it the first PHEV on the Australian market to offer truly fast DC charging — the report indicated 10-80 per cent in a rapid 12 minutes.Even on battery EVs, 800V architecture still remains relatively niche. It is, however, offered on XPeng’s G6 SUV which recently launched in Australia, as well as Hyundai and Kia’s rivalling E-GMP architecture, which underpins models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.When a battery gets as large as XPeng's new system, the terminology typically changes to become a range extender electric vehicle, or EREV.It's similar technology to what was seen in early electric cars including the Holden Volt and BMW i3 REX. But, like other PHEVs, it still has a combustion engine and a battery that can be charged on mains electricity.CarNewsChina is also reporting that the SUV will be a full-sized, seven-seat offering, with a price tag in China of above 400,000 Yuan ($87,139), suggesting it will be marketed as a high-end luxury model.CarsGuide has contacted XPeng’s local operations asking whether the brand has any more recent plans to introduce range extender technology locally. The brand previously stated electric-only intentions initially.

A revolutionary range of affordable electric cars could be headed our way. XPeng, which recently launched in Australia with its Tesla Model Y-rivalling G6, is tipped to bring its range of Mona vehicles Down Under.

You don’t typically associate the words “aircraft carrier” with cars, but that might be about to change.In what is probably the weirdest, wildest electric car yet, the Xpeng AeroHT Land Aircraft Carrier – a six-wheeled off-road utility with an in-built flying car – is reportedly set to enter production next year, according to Autocar UK.Both the car and its flying unit were displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this month, with Autocar reporting that Xpeng AeroHT – the aircraft subsidiary of Chinese Xpeng Motors – has already received “3000 intent-orders” for it.Reportedly, testing has been completed in China where type certification has already been received, a significant hurdle for the brand in being allowed to conduct commercial flights.Wang Tan, the co-founder and chief designer at Aero HT, told Autocar “There are people who like to go off-road, and this vehicle has a six-wheel set-up and a differential lock that gives it real off-road ability.“It will also offer another dimension to people who fly. I’m a pilot, and every time I want to fly, I need to go to the airport, and if I have my own helicopter, I might need a trailer. It makes it all very difficult, but with this, I can take my eVTOL anywhere.”That’s right, who needs the airport when you’ve got an in-built flying car mounted to your truck?The aircraft carrier itself is listed at around 5500mm in length and 2000mm in length, which, according to Tan, is still enough to fit in a standard parking space.Design-wise, it appears to be heavily-inspired by the Tesla Cybertruck, with its sharp front end, flat aluminium- and steel-look panelling and a body-width front LED light bar.It looses the bed to account for the flying car, of course, with rear suicide doors that lift up so the flying device can dock.There are just two seats in the truck for the driver and front passenger, as well as plenty of carbon fibre parts to save ample space and weight.Full specifications remain unconfirmed for now, but apparently the truck, which will use a range-extender EV powertrain, will be good for nearly 1000km of driving range.There is still a couple years of development work left to do, according to Tan, but a 2026 launch date is being thrown around, along with a price tag of under US$300,000 ($477,000), as per Autocar.Launch will take place in China with global markets reportedly to follow. Apparently there is lots of interest from Middle Eastern markets, too.Xpeng already has a presence in Australia, selling its Tesla Model Y competitor – the G6 SUV – locally. Expansion is on the cards with more models, including the G7, mooted to arrive.So, who knows? Given our vast expanses of remote country, and the Australian government's growing interest in eVTOLs, we might just be next in line.