Peter Lyon
March 16, 2024
Xpeng is finally launching in Malaysia. The local distributorship for XPeng, a Chinese brand most recognised for its high-end electric cars boasting cutting-edge autonomous driving systems, has been taken over by Bermaz Auto.
In addition to serving as the distributor for Malaysia, Bermaz Auto will handle the after-sales support and replacement component sales for the XPeng brand. In addition to Xpeng, Bermaz also currently looks after the Mazda and Kia brands in Malaysia, while Peugeot has just been returned to Stellantis’ new national sales organisation.
Founded in 2014 by two former executives of GAC Motor, Xpeng has since expanded into an international electric vehicle brand with multiple locations outside of China, such as two US R&D centres, a competence centre in Munich, a finance hub in Hong Kong, and its European headquarters in Amsterdam. Additionally, the corporation trades its shares openly on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.
Important backers of the brand include Foxconn, Alibaba, and most recently Volkswagen, which disclosed investing USD 700 million (about RM 940 million) in XPeng for a 4.99% share in the business. Additionally, VW Group and XPeng will work together to build two VW-branded EVs for the mid-size Chinese market, with a target release date of 2026.
In a news release, Bermaz Auto Group Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Francis Lee Kok Chuan expressed his excitement over the new distributorship, saying, “We are excited to be awarded the XPeng Distributorship for Malaysia. XPeng vehicles are among the top smart EVs in China and the world. This new distributorship will bring positive synergistic benefits to all parties and complement our Group’s current EV business.”
XPeng presently offers seven models including the G9 and G6 SUVs, the P7i and P5 sedans, and the X9 flagship MPV, which was first revealed in January of this year. The G6 has a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system with 503 hp and 640 Nm of torque, along with a 640 km (CLTC) electric range — which equates to around 550 km in the real world.
Bermaz Auto may have remained tight-lipped on its first model to be launched in Malaysia, but XPeng president Brian Gu previously stated that the brand’s G6 SUV will be the first model in its stable to debut as a right-hand-drive model as part of the brand’s new global push.
Like the Hyundai Santa Fe, the G6 is a large fully electric SUV. It is available in several versions with single- and dual-motor configurations in China. The G6 is priced starting at CNY209,900, or roughly RM137,000.
As stated by He Xiaopeng, the founder and CEO of XPeng, the company’s primary focus is artificial intelligence, with the goal of “making our smart EVs more efficient, convenient, and accessible to appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers.”
CARLIST THOUGHTS
The G6 will be the first of a veritable tsunami of EVs to come from China, with Xpeng offering a strong selection to start. This SUV certainly looks the business with its sharp styling, competitive range, and reasonable pricing. Watch out Tesla.
