This EV Maker Is Expanding Sales in Northern Europe

• XPeng's P7 performance sedan (pictured above) and the G9 flagship crossover are now on sale in Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

• In Europe, the G9 starts at €57,990 ($63,132) for the RWD Standard Range and tops out at €71,990 ($78,373) for the AWD Performance trim.

• In 2020, XPeng received a research import permit for the P7 from NHTSA in the US and an Autonomous Vehicles Testing Permit from the Californian Department of Motor Vehicles.

XPeng Motors is now selling its updated all-electric performance sedan and midsize crossover in four more European countries. The Chinese automaker hopes it's the next important step in CEO He Xiaopeng's stated goal of becoming a major global automaker.

The P7 performance sedan and the G9 flagship crossover are now on sale in Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden. XPeng has been selling its G3 CUV in Norway since 2020 and the P7 since 2021. So far, XPeng has sold around 1200 EVs in Norway and over 250,000 units globally. Almost half of the company's sales, 120,000 units, happened last year.

Jens Olsen, managing director of XPeng Motors Denmark, told Autoweek there is a limited-time window of opportunity for new EV brands to stake a claim in the global marketplace.

"The window is slowly closing, but it's gonna be open for quite some time for EVs in general," he said. "But, since a lot of brands are one step behind in terms of fully engaging with pure EVs, we need to establish ourselves while it's still very open. In a few years, it's going to be even more crowded."

Prospects for XPeng selling vehicles in the US appear to be murky, as company executives would not discuss specific US plans at a recent media event in Sweden.

In 2020, XPeng received a research import permit for the P7 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and an Autonomous Vehicles Testing Permit from the Californian Department of Motor Vehicles. Since then, XPeng has not tested any models on US roads, and the nature of the US market and recent geopolitical tensions haven't been inviting to XPeng.

"We have the ambition to sell our cars globally, so it's not a matter of if, but when," Olsen said. "The US is not the easiest market to penetrate as a Chinese brand. The Japanese took a while. The Koreans took a while. It's not the easiest part of the journey toward global sales. There are lower-hanging fruits in Asia and other regions. Still, if you can make it in Europe, you can make it anywhere."

Olsen considers premium German EVs, Tesla models, and Volvo's ReCharge products to be XPeng's main competitors. He also said XPeng has an advantage over other new entrants because it's been selling EVs in Europe long enough to get some feedback from users about where its cars can be improved.

That's one reason the updated P7 includes many nearly invisible upgrades to the infotainment and safety software. The maximum charging capability was increased from 80 kW to 175 kW. Range was increased from 330 miles (530 km) to 358 miles (576 km) on the optimistic WLTP test cycle.

Physical changes include a powered trunk, optional soft-closing doors, a heat pump, and a heated steering wheel. One obvious visual update is the addition of the high-end Kaitoke Green exterior paint, a €1200 ($1306) option.

XPeng's flagship G9 crossover is a new model for Europe and uses the same platform as the P7. Even before XPeng unveiled the prototype G3 crossover in 2016, the company was promoting itself as a tech-forward innovator.

The new G9 brings with it the best tech that the automaker has to offer, using the first 800-volt mass-production Silicon Carbide (SiC) platform from a Chinese automaker. That technology enables charging the battery from 10% to 80% full in 20 minutes.

The G9's battery pack—78.2 kWh in the base model, 98 kWh in the higher trims—offers up to 354 miles (570 km) of range (WLTP). The P7 and G9 both run the latest version of XPeng's in-house developed driver-assistance tech, called XPilot, to aid in parking and collision avoidance.

One difference between the Chinese and European models is that the European versions don't get LiDAR sensors, as they would not be useful without the high-definition maps that the cars use to assist drivers in China.

In Europe, the G9 starts at €57,990 for the RWD Standard Range and tops out at €71,990 for the AWD Performance trim. An electric tow bar, capable of pulling up to 3300 pounds, is standard across the line.

A single optional package, which includes ventilated massage seats, soft-close doors, and a Dynaudio sound system with Dolby Atmos, costs €3990. The only other option is exterior paint color, where anything other than Arctic White adds at least €900.

The P7 RWD Long Range starts at €49,990 and goes up by €10,000 for the AWD Performance model. The Wing Edition, which adds gull-wing doors, costs another €10,000. Local currency prices are similar in non-EU Scandinavian countries. European deliveries for the new P7 will start in June, while the G9 should arrive in September.

XPeng operates showrooms in Scandinavia and works with independent dealers and service providers in the countries where it sells EVs. Looking ahead, Olsen said XPeng is evaluating business strategies for "most" European markets, including the possibility of bringing in lower-cost vehicles.

"European countries are very different. But in terms of homologation, once you're into Europe, and you got the EU stamp, then, basically, you can sell your products in any market," he said. "I think we can also explore different ways of entering those markets."

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