Peter Lyon
April 12, 2024
Seen as a viable rival to Tesla, China’s XPeng intends to enter the right-hand drive (RHD) market in 2024, even though the models on display at this year’s Bangkok Motor Show were left-hand drive.
In addition to Thailand, XPeng listed Hong Kong and Malaysia as markets it wished to enter. Distributors of Kia and Mazda in Malaysia, Bermaz has signed to be XPeng’s agent here.
The company said however that it has partnered with Sime Darby to distribute cars in the financial hub, while another Malaysian representative has also been named as an XPeng distributor.
Sime Darby also just happens to be the distributor for BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, Peugeot, Suzuki, and Mitsubishi in Hong Kong.
According to a statement from XPeng, the Malaysian company intends to launch RHD versions of the G6 SUV and X9 MPV in the third quarter of 2024 in addition to opening a flagship store in Hong Kong.
Volkswagen Group owns a portion of the Guangzhou-based XPeng, which bears the name of its founder and CEO, He Xiaopeng. It is known for having cutting-edge smart driving technology, which may be more intelligent than Tesla’s Full Self-Driving System.
The G6, which is billed as the company’s first RHD vehicle and most likely the first to arrive in Malaysia, should be familiar to readers. With a maximum CLTC-rated range of 755 km and up to 356 ps and 660 Nm of torque, the G6 challenges the Model Y in power and performance.
Prices for the G6 in China start from CNY 209,900 (RM 139k) which is around 20% cheaper than the Model Y priced from CNY 263,900 (~RM 174k).
The company’s newest model, the X9, was introduced earlier this year, and measuring 5,293 mm in length, is larger than the Kia Carnival or Toyota Alphard.
Employing the SEPA 2.0 architecture, the X9 comes standard with an active rear-wheel steering system and an intelligent dual-chamber air suspension system.
There are two different powertrain options—a single front-mounted motor (320 ps/450 Nm) or twin electric motors on each axle with a combined output of 503 PS/640 Nm. Additionally, there are two battery options—an 84.5-kWh LFP pack or a 101.5-kWh NMC battery pack.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Rivaling the likes of the Toyota Alphard—the most popular minivan in Southeast Asia and Japan, the X9 boasts sleek proportions and a pleasing silhouette. And with power clearing 500 ps, and competitive charging capabilities—with Tesla, the keenly priced XPeng should cause some waves when it goes on sale here.
