Company behind $280,000 'flying car' tries to rival Tesla with UK launch of new electric car
The electric vehicle market continues to boom, and while many might attribute that to Elon Musk and Tesla, a younger electric upstart hopes to show its biggest rivals what it can do. XPeng has already cemented itself as an EV giant in China, but with a rollout to territories including Hong Kong, Norway, and Singapore, it's slowly spreading across the globe.
XPeng boasts some tech-savvy credentials, with the unusual factoid that 40% of its staff are based in research and development.
Celebrating its launch in the United Kingdom, XPeng showed off an impressive lineup of vehicles including the XPeng P7+, which is billed as the world's first AI-defined vehicle. There was also the X9 seven-seater people carrier and the much-hyped eVTOL X2 flying car from XPeng AeroHT - an XPeng subsidiary and Asia's largest eVTOL company.
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XPeng hopes to offer a "more intuitive, safer, and highly customisable driving experience, enhancing convenience and personalisation for users," but in terms of the big talking point, the 'flying car' is the one that's grabbing everyone's attention.
Being a standout of CES 2024, the X2 is poised to soar over traffic in the midst of your morning commute and turned plenty of heads at the UK brand launch.
Expected to retail between $180,000 to $200,000, the X2 is set to soar in the next couple of years. There's also the 'Land Carrier Vehicle' that looks like something that could put the Cybertruck to shame.
Hoping for mass production and delivery in 2026, the Land Carrier Vehicle is a six-wheeled vehicle that carries an eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) craft in the back.
In terms of XPeng's UK debut, there are plans to open 20 dealerships in 2025 thanks to a partnership with International Motors Ltd (IML), the first two products going on sale are the G9, and the flagship SUV XPeng G6. There’s the noted addition that the UK’s G6 is the first right-hand drive version.
The G6's prices start from £39,990 ($49,550), but as well as being competitively priced to compete with Tesla's Model Y trading at £44,990 ($55,745), there's plenty going on under the hood to give drivers more bang for their buck.
Added to this, the G6's starting price means it's avoiding the UK's 'luxury tax' placed on cars priced over £40,000.
Discussing the company's move into the UK market, Dr. Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and President of XPeng, explained: "Our launch in the UK, in partnership with International Motors Ltd (IML), marks a significant step in XPeng’s European and global expansion.
"We are excited to bring a new era of smarter, more sustainable mobility to the UK market and globally.
“With XPeng’s cutting-edge proprietary technology - ranging from futuristic design and impressive range to ultra-fast charging - we are confident that our vehicles will resonate with UK consumers, offering exceptional quality, innovation, and an outstanding driving experience."
Gu pointed to Tesla's success in the United Kingdom, and although EV sales only accounted for around 19% of new car registrations in the UK in 2024, it's a growing market share.
William Brown, Managing Director of IML, UK, added: "We take great pride in partnering with an innovative brand like XPeng Together, we are committed to shaping the future of electric mobility by providing market-leading vehicles and services. And we can’t wait to start our exciting journey with XPeng."
XPeng was founded in 2014, and having delivered more than 620,000 Smart EVs around the world, has made a name for itself as one of the fastest-growing high-tech automotive companies.
With the mere notion of flying cars enough to pique our interest, XPeng could be one to watch.