XPeng aims to sell more than one million cars outside of China by 2030.
Image: XPeng
The Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer and Volkswagen partner, XPeng, aims to significantly expand its international presence. As CEO He Xiaopeng said in an interview with Vision Mobility, the company targets selling over one million vehicles outside of China by 2030. He described the domestic market as currently very challenging and likely to remain so for many years. To broaden its operations, the company is focusing on expanding into Europe among other regions.
XPeng relies on expansion and partnerships for its European strategy. The Chinese company is open to discussions about acquiring production facilities in Europe or forming corresponding partnerships. While current manufacturing takes place mainly in plants within the People’s Republic, this emerging manufacturer is already expanding in Asia with new sites in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Technologically, the company positions itself as a tech conglomerate that develops software in addition to electric vehicles. A key focus is on artificial intelligence and the integration of robotics with automotive technology. “The new revolution is artificial intelligence and the synergy between robots and cars,” believes He Xiaopeng. He describes AI as a new technological revolution meant to assist humans—there is no need to fear it.
In Germany, XPeng aims for widespread presence. According to the brand’s own statements, it currently has around 70 dealers and plans to increase this number to 110 by the end of the year. Many of these partners are also dealers of German premium brands, with whom XPeng wants to compete, according to the CEO.
“But we’re not here just to make money. We want our products to help make the world a little better—as well in Europe,” emphasizes He Xiaopeng. Autonomous driving is a key component in this effort, one that everyone can benefit from in the end.
While XPeng is primarily associated with autonomous driving in Asia, the brand positions itself in Europe through “smart high-end technology” at present. However, in the long term, highly automated and fully autonomous driving functions of levels four and five are also set to be available there.
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About the author
Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive and financial industries. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
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