XPeng G6 electric car confirmed for Australia
The electric car market is about to heat up as another cut-price brand announces plans to set up shop in Australia, starting with a sharp looking, well equipped SUV.
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A new Chinese electric car company hopes to follow the likes of MG, BYD and Great Wall by capturing a slice of the Australian car market.
XPeng has locked in plans to sell a coupe-like SUV with plenty of range and a long features list before the end of the year.
The manufacturer will work with Australian electric vehicle specialist TrueEV to distribute the new XPeng G6 before the fourth quarter of the year.
Sales of Chinese cars have exploded in recent years, as buyers abandon traditional brands for better equipped and cheaper alternatives.
In 2017, we bought just 5000 Chinese-built vehicles. Last year, they accounted for close to 200,000 new-car sales. China has overtaken Korea as our third largest market for vehicle imports.
And given the Chinese car industry’s dominance of the electric car market, the growth is likely to continue.
The top-selling nation Tesla Model Y and Model 3 are built in China, as are the BMW iX1 and Polestar 2. Meanwhile Chinese brands such as BYD, Chery and GWM are expanding their electric offerings.
The G6 shapes up as an attractive SUV with a similar silhouette to the BMW X4.
Local prices and specifications for the car have not been confirmed.
But overseas models are available with a choice of two batteries – a 66kWh unit with 435km of range and a 87.5kWh version with up to 570 kilometres of range.
Customers can choose from a pair of two-wheel-drive models with 190kW/440Nm or 210kW/440Nm power figures.
An all-wheel-drive dual-motor version has 350kW and 660Nm, enabling it to reach 100km/h in just four seconds.
Tech includes a 10.2-inch digital driver display and a 15-inch central infotainment system linked to an 18-speaker stereo.
Jason Clarke, chief executive of TrueEV, says the XPeng G6 will “will excite and accelerate the adoption of EVs in Australia”.
“XPeng is the highest quality intelligent EV that we could identify after an exhaustive search,” he says.
“We are confident that XPeng’s product range and design features are ideally suited to the Australian market.
“This collaboration represents a significant leap forward in the Australian range of intelligent EVs available and will be supported with the roll out of superior charging technology and capability.”
XPeng general manager of international markets, Alex Tang, says the manufacturer’s Australian expansion is “a significant step forward in our global expansion strategy”.
“By entering new markets strategically and offering a range of EV models tailored to local customer needs, we aim to solidify our brand position as a leading player in the smart EV sector on a global scale.”
Originally published as XPeng G6 electric car confirmed for Australia
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