Xpeng Motors Rolls Off 10,000 Units Of Its Smart G3 EV
Xpeng Motors (Xpeng) continues its steady progress by completing another production milestone, that of 10,000 units of its G3 smart electric vehicle (EV). This was just 188 days into its official launch. Xpeng thus clenched the title of most EV sales from a new EV manufacturer/startup in China.
According to Xpeng Motors’ Chairman & CEO, He Xiaopeng:
“Today marks a critical milestone for Xpeng Motors, validating our end-to-end capability, from R&D and design, through manufacturing, sales and delivery, to charging and post-sales services. It is also an endorsement of our ability to manage the supply chain, and our sales and distribution strategy.”
With the 10,000th unit of the startup’s G3 rolling off the production line, its Intelligent Plant in Zhengzhou used 273 smart robots and 85% automated welding facilities for the production of the smart EVs. With this, the Xpeng G3 topped the number of deliveries to buyers among new EV makers in China for both April and May 2019, based on official data was released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The numbers released were: 2,200 units delivered in April and 2,704 in May, showing a total of 7,359 G3s built from January to May. Congratulations, Xpeng!
Here is a great video of Brian Gu, Vice Chair & President, with whom we had the pleasure of having great discussions regarding local and international markets.
Xpeng Motors Stores & Network
The Xpeng G3 success builds on the company’s charging infrastructure expansion that was started in April 2019. Xpeng aims to develop 100 direct and authorized sales stores and a network of post-sales service centers by end of 2019. This also makes it the only Chinese EV carmaker to build and operate its own supercharging network, which it plans to expand to 200 across 30 cities by end 2019 and 1,000 nationwide in the next 3 years, while connecting over 100,000 third-party charging spots across China.
Something that struck me about the Xpeng G3’s apparent success is due to how it smoothens the road driving experience in China. The company backs it up with real-time data showing the auto parking success rate exceeding 70%, ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) adoption rate reaching 30%, and voice command penetration rate surpassing 85%, with onboard navigation features utilized by 95% of users. Not a bad spot to reach for a first car from a five-year young mobility maker.
Xpeng Continues At A Steady Pace, Meets Every Target
Xpeng has updated its G3 three times with over the air (OTA) updates since deliveries started this year, with over 40 new features added and more than 200 features enhanced. The latest software edition is the Xmart OS1.4, with an enhanced Intelligent Cruise Auxiliary (ICA) function giving the G3 a level-2 autonomous driving level. Xpeng Motors develops almost all of its core technologies in-house, where it can better integrate its software ecosystem with OTA upgrades that are faster and more efficient, for a better EV and autonomous experience.
He Xiaopeng explained that Xpeng’s approach to smart EVs is to strike a balance between hardware and software innovation: “Our approach to software innovation and OTA upgrades is like what you would do in a sprint – small steps, faster pace. Hardware innovation is similar to a long march – it is not about speed but to focus on steadiness and control.”
Xpeng Motors Hits Its Stride
In a media blitz world of oftentimes negative EV and autonomous vehicle (AV) news, it is good to hear from a startup that has human-size ambitions, a steady and pragmatic approach to get there, and above all, consistency. Congratulations, Xpeng Motors, on your stratospheric climb in the green mobility world.
All photos by Xpeng Motors or me, Nicolas Zart
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