When you go At the XPeng launch event in Munich you are greeted by, I kid you not, a giant wooden Trojan horse. A not-so-subtle message from a Chinese brand announcing its first global EV launch right on the fringes of the German auto industry.
It’s hard to believe that XPeng was founded just 12 years ago. However, by 2020 it was already supplying electric vehicles to Norway, marking the start of the Chinese company’s European journey. Today, the company’s commercial product portfolio includes robots and flying cars in addition to cars.
Look at the top 10 electric vehicle manufacturers in China by volume and you won’t find XPeng, but it is growing and has gained a great reputation outside its home country. The company now wants to go global with its latest model, the L03, the brand’s first new car, which will be launched in 60 countries in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
The L03 is a big success for XPeng because it is its “budget” model, which starts at €35,600 (about $41,000), is priced lower than the G6 rival Tesla Model Y, and sells in high volumes.
Base level XPeng L03 in Munich with a Trojan horse in the background.
Jeremy White
Yes, L03 is the company’s product for the mass market. Despite the high prices, XPeng has strived to make the specs attractive: a claimed WLTP range of 320 miles; fast charging, from 10 to 80 percent in 20 minutes; panoramic glass roof; heated and cooled massage seats; 256-color ambient lighting; brushed metal speaker covers; impressive drag coefficient of 0.228, allowing for increased flight range; smart parking; 15.6-inch central screen with 2.5K resolution; 27-inch interface; Voice control based on artificial intelligence; and even built-in Google Maps.
All this and more comes standard whether you choose the standard, Long Range, AWD or Ultra model. The phrase XPeng keeps repeating about this embarrassment of riches is “above class.” He wants the L03 to keep pace with electric cars in the segment above it – cars like the Volkswagen ID.4.
Performance? Well, the 4650mm five-seat L03 can sprint from 0 to 60mph in just 4.5 seconds on top models, but that time drops to 7.5 seconds on the base Standard Range version.
Photo: Courtesy of XPeng.