► Chinese EV Xpeng launches in the UK
► Plans to have five models on sale by 2027
► CAR speaks to UK managing director
Xpeng has become the latest Chinese brand to launch in the UK. The announcement came at a slick launch event in Central London on 11 February and will see Xpeng partner with International Motors Ltd (IML), a company with 50 years of experience in introducing new brands to the UK.
‘Our launch in the UK, in partnership with International Motors Ltd (IML), marks a significant step in Xpeng’s European and global expansion,’ said Dr. Brian Gu, vice chairman and president of Xpeng.
‘We are excited to bring a new era of smarter, more sustainable mobility to the UK market and globally. With Xpeng’s cutting-edge proprietary technology – ranging from futuristic design and impressive range to ultra-fast charging – we are confident that our vehicles will resonate with UK consumers, offering exceptional quality, innovation, and an outstanding driving experience.’
Xpeng is already on sale in several parts of Europe, but it believes the UK is a significant piece of the puzzle. To that end, Xpeng and IML are aiming to open 20 dealerships in the UK by the end of the year. CAR understands Xpeng is also aiming for 40 active by 2026.
The event showcased several of Xpeng’s cars, with the aim of reinforcing the company’s tech first mission statement. Walk around the space and you’d come across the large G9 SUV, the P7+ coupe and the X2 flying car, as well as the G6 electric SUV and the X9 MPV. Only the latter two are confirmed for the UK, though; the G6 is now on sale, and the X9 should appear in Q4 of 2025.
Who is Xpeng?
Xpeng is an automotive brand based in China, which was founded in 2014. Its full name is Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology, and it has been manufacturing and selling cars in its home market since 2018. It was founded by He Xiaopeng, hence the name.
‘We would describe Xpeng more as a technology company than a car company,’ William Brown, International Motors’ UK director told us in early 2025. ‘A technology company that knows how to build really well-designed EVs. It’s all about making sure all of the technology works first, and then building a vehicle around that.’
To that end, 40 per cent of Xpeng employees are involved in R&D, with over of half of those specialising in AI and software development.
‘The brand is very much focused on future mobility,’ Brown added. ‘It’s always looking forward into the future to try and foresee what future mobility will look like, which seems a bit farfetched now in terms of things like flying cars and autonomous driving but the view is that, at some point, some of the parts of technology developed here will make their way into cars.’
To that end, Xpeng is keen to push its AI and autonomous tech as USPs, though much of the latter is currently not allowed in the UK. That’s why Xpeng is speaking to the UK government – along with many other brands – to expedite our self-driving laws. As for the other AI, Xpeng says it uses in-house developed architecture, but components from its technology partners.
What’s the G6 electric SUV like?
We’ve already driven the Xpeng G6 both in Amsterdam and the UK, and found it to be smooth, refined spacious and well built – making it very competitive against the last-gen Tesla Model Y, at least. The standard range car will go on sale for £39,990 while a long range version will retail at £44,990. The entry-level car has a WLTP range of 270 miles, while the long-range car will stretch to 354 miles.
Xpeng is pushing the ‘everything as standard’ mantra, which means you get a bulging standard spec list. It doesn’t include paint, though; there are five colours to choose from but opt for anything other than Arctic White and you’ll pay £700 for the privilege – or £900 if you go for the limited edition Fiery Orange you see above.
You can read our full review of the G6 here.
What about the X9?
Xpeng also revealed the X9, the car that will follow the G6 in the UK. Globally, the X9 caters to a growing segment of the car market that’s also served by models like the Zeekr 09 and its Volvo EM90 cousin, as well as the Li Auto Mega. I’ll also take advantage of the relatively small electric MPV offering in the UK.
Xpeng believes the X9 fuses the market for luxury shuttles, executive saloons and large family SUVs – one of the reasons it doesn’t like it being called just an MPV. That’s a lot of ground to cover, but our first impressions of the car are good. After a poke around we found the interior to be at a similar or better level to the G6’s – though we’ll reserve judgement until we’ve had a proper drive of it.
The third car to launch in the UK market is a ‘D-segment SUV – and a new generation of a car that’s already on sale in Europe,’ according to Brown. That means we’re looking at the second-generation version of the G9 SUV.