XPeng reveals plan to be top 5 EV brand in Australia

China’s biggest companies are talking tough as the battle for the dollars of Aussie consumers takes a new turn.

The battle for Australia’s booming car market is heating up, with Chinese EV disruptor XPENG firing back at BYD’s claim that local success is a “signal to the world” of its global dominance.

In response to BYD Founder and President Mr Wang Chuanfu’s rare and exclusive interview last week, TrueEV CEO Jason Clarke, who heads XPENG’s local operations, said that while BYD has “shifted the EV landscape,” the next wave of innovation is just beginning, and XPeng plans to lead it.

“We agree that Australia represents a globally visible market with high consumer expectations, and XPENG is proud to be part of this shift,” he said.

“We view this as an opportunity to demonstrate what the next generation of EVs can deliver – in both technology and driver experience.”

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TrueEV CEO, local distributor of XPENG, Jason Clarke said “there’s no question BYD has helped shift the EV landscape in Australia” but XPENG sees a “great deal of space for innovation and evolution”. Picture: Supplied

XPENG’s response comes after Mr Chuanfu declared that success in Australia proved BYD could “meet and exceed the expectations of mature markets” – a statement seen by many as a declaration of global EV domination.

Clarke said Australia is equally critical to XPENG’s global expansion strategy, and he confirmed that the brand is “here for the long haul”.

“Our goal is bold. We aim to be among the top five pure EV brands in Australia within the next three years,” he said.

“The future of XPENG here is about more than just presence. It’s about leadership in the EV revolution.”

The Australian market has been heating up over the past few years as Chinese EV makers vie for a position in Australia’s booming market, with brands such as BYD, GWM, Chery, and XPENG expanding their local presence.

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BYD electric cars waiting to be loaded to the automobile carrier BYD "Shenzhen". (Photo by AFP) / China OUT

BYD has surged ahead with volume, recently celebrating its 60,000th delivery in Australia, and last month ranked 5th in the best-selling brands nationally.

For Clarke, it’s not about volume but offering consumers advanced technology like AI-assisted driving, 800V ultra-fast charging and the brand’s Turing Chip, an in-house design to power its advanced ADAS systems.

“XPENG is at the frontier of AI and smart driving,” he said.

“Our MONA M03 offers advanced ADAS with XNGP support, over 20 smart hardware components standard, and full-scenario smart parking. We also lead in charging speed with our 800V 5C platform, and our 10-year battery warranty sets a new benchmark for customer confidence.”

The brand has already received strong response to the G6 and the upcoming release of the G9.

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XPENG has plans to increase its line-up with the MONA M03 and G9. Picture: Supplied

Clarke said the XPENG is taking the Australian market seriously, with infrastructure, innovation and customer support at the centre of its long-term strategy.

“We understand that long distances and fast charging are non-negotiable in Australia,” he said.

XPENG is also focused on extended range options, including the Kunpeng Super Electric System offers up to 430km of electric-only range and an impressive 1,400km total range in hybrid format.

“That’s why our vehicles use 800V platforms with 5C charging, meaning you can go from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in just 12 minutes.”

XPENG is preparing to launch several models locally, including the flagship X9 and the futuristic MONA M03, powered by AI-driven systems and full-scenario smart parking.

Originally published as XPeng reveals plan to be top 5 EV brand in Australia