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Xpeng launches US$44,000 semi-autonomous G9 SUV to take on Tesla’s Model Y in China’s premium EV market

  • The G9 has been priced from 309,900 yuan (US$44,170) to 469,900 yuan
  • SUV is ‘the last step’ before truly autonomous vehicles, Xpeng CEO says

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Xpeng received about 23,000 orders for the G9 in the first 24 hours after its presales were launched on August 10. Photo: Handout
Daniel Ren
Chinese smart electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng Motors launched the G9, its premium sport utility vehicle (SUV), on Wednesday.

The G9, Guangzhou-based Xpeng’s fourth production model, will have a driving range of 702 kilometres on a single charge and will be delivered to customers in October. It has been priced from 309,900 yuan (US$44,170) to 469,900 yuan.

The SUV, which is capable of navigating its way automatically along city streets, is expected to take on Tesla’s bestselling Model Y, the current front-runner in China’s premium SUV segment, and is being viewed as a potential game changer for the segment.
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“We believe the G9 will become the new benchmark for smart EVs, representing the last step before the realisation of truly autonomous vehicles,” He Xiaopeng, Xpeng’s co-founder and CEO, said during the model’s online launch event.

02:18

Chinese XPeng electric car can drive and park by itself

Chinese XPeng electric car can drive and park by itself
Xpeng, along with Shanghai-based Nio and Beijing-headquartered Li Auto, have been churning out new models with object-detection technology, assisted parking and semi-autonomous driving systems, with the aim of unseating Tesla.
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The Model Y, which is priced at 316,900 to 417,900 yuan, currently outsells all other battery-powered and conventional SUVs in the more than 300,000 yuan price range in China, topping the likes of BMW’s X3, Mercedes-Benz’s GLC and Audi’s Q5. Its performance edition can go as far as 615km on a single charge.

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