Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Xpeng intends to introduce its initial right-hand drive model in the latter part of this year, signaling an intensified global expansion strategy with a focus on markets like Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
He Xiaopeng, the co-founder and CEO of the Guangzhou-based automaker, highlighted plans to target Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia to bolster Xpeng’s international reputation as a premier producer of intelligent electric vehicles, according to South China Morning Post.
As part of Xpeng’s global strategy 2.0, He emphasised collaborations with proficient overseas dealers, aiming to make top-notch smart electric cars accessible to a global customer base.
The move towards delivering right-hand drive vehicles beyond mainland China serves as a strategic hedge against potential sales declines in the domestic market, currently affected by a competitive price war impacting profitability across the industry.
Xpeng, currently manufacturing predominantly left-hand drive vehicles, plans to release an updated version of its popular G6 sport-utility vehicle (SUV) as its first right-hand drive offering.
Brian Gu, the company’s president, anticipates the launch in Hong Kong by late 2024, marking a significant move by a major Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer into the city’s market with a right-hand drive model.
The G6, priced from RMB209,900 (~RM136,848) on the mainland, boasts features such as the Navigation Guided Pilot (X NGP), enabling automatic navigation through city streets.
