Kiwi interest in tech and innovation emboldens Xpeng’s push.

ANOTHER Chinese automotive start up with a fascinating back story but no previous history here has kicked into action here, with a single product.

XPeng has confirmed its entry here with the G6 SUV, a mid-sized electric vehicle in production since 2023 that rivals the $67,900-$101,000 Tesla Model Y and is being marketed as a ‘ultra smart coupe SUV’.

Pricing seems tailored to rock the sector, wtih four editions lining up. The pitch begins with a rear-wheel-drive Long Range at $63,990, them ramps through an all-wheel-drive Long Range Performance, for $72,990, topping with the AWD Black Edition Long Range Performance, at $75,490. The entry ticket revises “at a later date” when a rear-wheel-drive Standard Range model includes for $59,990.

The Standard Range product runs a 66kWh battery rated to deliver 435km, based on WLTP testing. the Long Range product has a 87.5kWh battery rated to allow the car to go 570km.

Xpeng is inviting potential owners to sign up for a test drive of the car out of single dealerships in Auckland and Christchurch.

The brand whose name is most accurately pronounced ‘shao-pung’ (but is likely to have to put up with being called ‘ex-pung/ex-peng’) says those outlets are now in operation, and indicated more are to come.

A media share says “additional locations in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, and Tauranga will follow in 2026.”

Also en route is another product. The X9 plush people carrier also lists on the site, again without specification or pricing detail.

Xpeng is akin to Leapmotor, which came here 18 months ago, in that it is a young player.

It only founded in 2014, as the brainchild of a group of automotive and tech company executives, and didn’t release its first car until 2018. In 2021 Norway became its first export market; now it has many more.

It has become notable for being an entirely privately owned business that focus on EVs and application of Artificial Intelligence to mobility.

While it has a range of cars, it also develops tech, including the first AI-integrated operating systems for cars called ‘AI Tianji System XOS 5.1.0’.

Like the 19 other Chinese makes now here, with another - BAIC - set to join in March, Xpeng appears to have bold aspiration for growth.

Xpeng New Zealand head of marketing Damian Royce says the it intends a nationwide rollout and sees good prospects for the G6.

It intends to position the G6 as a choice combining artificial intelligence, advanced driver-assistance systems and a technology-focused driving experience.

The model’s credential is possibly further strengthened by it last month receiving a five star safety score from Australia-based independent crash test safety assessor ANCAP.

Royce says the openings announced today are a significant milestone.

“New Zealand has shown strong enthusiasm for innovation and sustainability, and our new dealerships now give customers the opportunity to see, touch, and experience our technology firsthand.”

Xpeng headquarters in Guangzhou in the Guangdong province of China.

A year on from releasing its first car product, the G3 SUV, it rolled out a P7 large sedan. Later, the G9 large SUV and P5 small sedan were also launched.

The GP5 is notable for tech inclusions such as dual LiDAR, radar and ultrasonic sensors that formed part of the brand’s ‘XPilot3.5’ ADAS system.

The brand also developed the first comprehensive models for intelligent driving with AI (‘XNet’, ‘XPlanner’ and ‘XBrain’), the world’s first 40-core chip for AI-defined cars, robots and flying vehicles (‘Xpeng Turing’) and the AI perception sensor ‘Hawkeye Vision’. Plus, it also launched an AI humanoid robot called Iron in 2024.

In respect to its EV endeavours, Xpeng has also taken a page from the Tesla ‘how to’ book by developing a massive bespoke charging network for its cars in China.