One other main Chinese language EV model, Xpeng, has introduced plans to launch the primary of its rising electrical automobile fleet in Australia this yr, with the primary electrical SUV as a result of land within the fourth quarter of 2024.
Xpeng stated on Thursday that it has partnered with a native distributor, TrueEV, which can be importing, distributing and retailing the technology-focused EV model in Australia. It’s much like an association that one other China EV maker BYD has with EVDirect.
“This collaboration represents a major leap ahead within the Australian vary of clever EVs accessible and can be supported with the roll out of superior charging know-how and functionality,” Jason Clarke, CEO of TrueEV stated, stated in an announcement.
“We’re assured that XPeng’s product vary and design options are ideally suited to the Australian market.”
The primary mannequin to be provided beneath the brand new partnership is the glossy G6 electrical SUV, which was first launched on the Shanghai Auto Present final yr and has been extremely popular within the native Chinese language market. It was not too long ago launched in Norway on the equal of round $A58,000, the same worth to the Tesla Mannequin Y.
Xpeng has been trying in latest months at releasing a right-hand-drive mannequin with information rising of it heading to Singapore and doubtlessly to different worldwide markets in its efforts to change into a world participant. The Xpeng is now accessible to order in 4 nations in Europe – Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands
“By coming into new markets strategically and providing a spread of EV fashions tailor-made to native buyer wants, we intention to solidify our model place as a number one participant within the sensible EV sector on a world scale,” stated Alex Tang, Xpeng’s GM of Worldwide Markets.
The G6 is a vital automotive for the model given Xpeng has included varied new manufacturing technique improvements to scale back prices whereas enhancing the automobile’s manufacturing course of.
This features a die-casted entrance and rear built-in aluminium physique in addition to the packaging of the battery. On high of that the battery pack is hooked up to the automobile utilizing a cell-integrated physique know-how which helps with higher house administration contained in the cabin of the automotive.
On the specs entrance, the single-motor fashions of the Xpeng G6 ship as much as 218 kW of energy whereas the dual-motor high-performance variant can ship as much as 368 kW.
The G6 SUV can be the primary mannequin from the model to be based mostly on its newest 800 Volts EV structure, permitting for 300 km of vary to be added in 10 minutes on the proper DC quick charger.
Now with the manufacturers plans to carry the G6 into the Australian market, it’s certain to shake issues up a bit within the electrical SUV section.
Pricing and specs of the native fashions are more likely to be launched nearer to the official launch.
Riz is the founding father of carloop based mostly in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV knowledge, perception experiences and traits. He’s a mechanical engineer who spent the primary 7 years of his profession constructing transport infrastructure earlier than beginning carloop. He has a ardour for automobiles, notably EVs and needs to assist scale back transport emissions in Australia. He presently drives a purple Tesla Mannequin 3.