Electric cars: China’s Xpeng eyes three new models in 2023 to get back on track after Covid-19 lockdowns dented sales

Name: Tesla launches sales in Thailand, heating up electric vehicle competition
Uploaded: 2022-12-16T10:00:25.000Z
Duration: 1 min 57 s
Description: Tesla launches sales in Thailand, heating up electric vehicle competition

The carmaker hopes to unveil an upgraded P7 saloon, a mid-sized SUV and a minivan, according to two sources

A strained supply chain caused by Beijing’s zero-Covid strategy had prevented Xpeng from delivering enough vehicles to customers

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The carmaker plans to unveil an upgraded version of its bestselling P7 saloon, pictured here. Photo: SCMP Handout

Daniel Renin Shanghai

Published: 6:00pm, 16 Dec 2022

Chinese electric car maker Xpeng aims to launch three vehicles next year, as it ramps up development of new models to make up the ground lost to Covid-19 lockdowns in 2022.

The Guangzhou-based carmaker will unveil an upgraded version of its bestselling P7 saloon, a mid-sized sport-utility vehicle (SUV) and a minivan, or multipurpose vehicle, according to two sources with knowledge of its plans. The smart car builder released just one model, the G9 premium SUV, this year.

The aggressive plan to develop and manufacture new cars amid intensified competition comes after a strained supply chain caused the carmaker to suffer production losses in recent months.

The upgraded P7 and the mid-size SUV designed to take on Tesla’s popular Model Y will be ready for delivery to customers next year, though the MPV may take longer, the sources said.

Xpeng would not comment when contacted by the Post.

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Tesla launches sales in Thailand, heating up electric vehicle competition

Along with Shanghai-based Nio and Beijing-headquartered Li Auto, Xpeng is viewed as China’s best response to US electric car maker Tesla in the world’s largest market for such vehicles.