China’s Xpeng car manufacturer has begun production in Europe

Chinese carmaker Xpeng has officially started producing electric vehicles in Europe, becoming the first major Chinese EV brand to launch local production on the continent.

The move puts it slightly ahead of rival BYD, which is still preparing to open its European factory later this year.

Xpeng’s first European-made models, the G6 and G9 electric crossovers, have already rolled off the assembly line.

By shifting production closer to its target market, the company is not only cutting delivery times but also dodging heavy import tariffs that have recently been imposed on Chinese EVs.

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Local production helps to avoid tariffs

The manufacturing is handled by Magna Steyr, a contract production giant with decades of experience in the automotive industry.

Based in Graz, Austria, Magna’s facility is famous for building vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and BMW Z4, as well as past EV projects like the Jaguar I-Pace.

For Xpeng, partnering with Magna offers a fast and relatively risk-free way to secure a European foothold without investing billions in its own plant.

There’s also a financial edge.

With the European Union imposing steep duties on Chinese EV imports, local production helps the brand stay competitive.

Instead of facing the same tariff hurdles as some rivals, Xpeng can deliver its vehicles at prices that remain appealing to European buyers.

Series production is expected to be in full swing by next month, putting Xpeng ahead of BYD’s planned launch in Hungary later this year.

Xpeng is quickly establishing itself as a global player

The G6 and G9, Xpeng’s best-selling models in Europe, are at the heart of this strategy.

The G6, in particular, has been a standout success, making up 67 percent of the brand’s European sales.

Designed as a rival to the Tesla Model Y, the G6 offers cutting-edge technology, including an 800-volt battery system capable of ultra-fast charging.

Just how fast? Think 10 percent to 80 percent in just 10 minutes, at up to 451 kilowatts.

Xpeng may be young, founded only in 2014, but it’s quickly establishing itself as a global player.

Last year, it sold nearly 200,000 vehicles worldwide, and exports are growing fast, with 18,701 units shipped abroad in the first seven months of this year.

In Europe alone, it has already logged more than 8,000 registrations in the first half of the year, which isn’t surprising given that Chinese cars are becoming more popular within the continent.

The new Xpeng P7 even received a staggering 10,000 orders in just 6 minutes and 37 seconds, showing that there’s keen interest in the brand.

With European production now underway, the company is sending a clear signal: it intends to be a serious contender in the world’s most competitive EV market.The post China’s Xpeng car manufacturer has begun production in Europe appeared first on Supercar Blondie.