Top stories of XPeng in 2021

In 2021, XPeng became the first local startup to deliver over 10,000 vehicles in one month, and its monthly deliveries had surpassed 10,000 for four consecutive months. To meet strong market demands, the automaker started to build its production base in Wuhan and the second phase of its Zhaoqing plant. And, XPeng was also the first Chinese new energy vehicle startup which went public in Hong Kong.

Photo credit: XPeng

Here are some news about XPeng in 2021.

XPeng delivers 16,000 vehicles in December

In December, 2021, XPeng delivered 16,000 vehicles, surpassing the record set in November, and representing an increase of 181% from a year ago. In the fourth quarter of last year, XPeng’s deliveries amounted to 41,751 vehicles, surging 222% year over year and far surpassing its quarterly outlook (between 34,500 and 36,500).

For the whole year, the company delivered 98,155 vehicles, skyrocketing 263% from a year ago. As of December 31, 2021, the company’s cumulative deliveries totaled 137,953 vehicles.

XPeng apologizes for illegal collection of human face photos at Shanghai sales shops

XPeng Inc. officially apologized on Tuesday for its Shanghai sales shops' illegal collection of human face photos which raise the public's concerns about personal data security.

The apology came after a local media channel reported that Shanghai XPeng Motor Sales Service Co.,Ltd. was fined 100,000 yuan ($15,720) by the Xuhui District Administration for Market Regulation for buying cameras and installing them in sales outlets to gather human facial recognition data.

The startup said its Shanghai sales shops intend to better serve consumers by collecting and analyzing the showroom traffic and other data. The purchase and misuse of the cameras resulted from the branch's unfamiliarity with relevant laws and regulations.

XPeng expressed its thorough obedience to the administrative penalty and said it had removed all data collection devices before the authority came to shops for supervision on March 18. In addition, the facial recognition data collected and analyzed by the third-party software supplier ulucu have already been deleted, the company said.

XPeng, Qualcomm establish strategic cooperation

XPeng Inc. announced a strategic cooperation with Qualcomm Technologies today at the Auto Guangzhou 2021. Both parties also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Under the partnership, the companies will promote the further application of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon automotive cockpit into XPeng’s future models to offer customers much more intelligent, efficient and comfortable mobility experience.

XPeng smart flagship SUV G9 makes debut at Auto Guangzhou 2021

XPeng Inc. today unveiled its all-new smart flagship SUV model, the G9, at the Auto Guangzhou 2021. At the show, the company also launched its express service brand X-SERVICE and its used car brand X-CERTIFIED.

The G9 is the company’s first model which targets global markets from the very beginning of its development. The new SUV model is developed to be compliant with the C-NCAP and E-NCAP five-star safety design standards, as well as the EU WVTA vehicle certification standards.

The new model’s front ends adopt the company’s iconic X Robot Face, completed by daytime running lights. Two LiDARs are integrated into the headlights.

XPeng-backed flying car firm HT Aero to have European test flights in H1 2022

HT Aero, an UAM (urban air mobility) company and an affiliate of XPeng Inc., plans to start trial flights for the “Voyager X2”, the company's fifth-generation “flying car” in Europe in the first half of 2022, Zhao Deli, founder and president of HT Aero, said on Nov. 16 at the 2021 European Rotors.

On the opening day, through a virtual exhibit, HT Aero for the first time presented its industry-defining range of innovative technologies for UAM, including the Voyager X2 and the concept of the 6th-generation “flying car”, in the heart of European rotorcraft community.

XPeng to deliver P5 with delayed radar installation due to millimeter-wave radar shortage

Affected by the dearth of millimeter-wave radars, XPeng has designed two optional car delivery solutions for P5’s users, one of which will allow a buyer to get his car delivered first and have the radars installed later from the end of March 2022, according to the Guangzhou-based EV startup.

According to the aforesaid solution (hereby called “the Option A”), XPeng will provide the users who accept the “simpler” version of the P5 with the free XPILOT 3.0/3.5 driver assistance system as compensation. Besides, the buyer should sign a supplemental agreement with the seller.

As for the Option B, if a buyer insisted on getting a “complete” version of the P5, he should be patient and queue up for the car delivery, and waive the aforementioned free entitlement.

XPeng’s 100,000th vehicle rolls off production line

XPeng celebrated the production of its 100,000th vehicle today, marking another new milestone for the company after it hit the 10,000-unit monthly delivery milestone in September.

The vehicle was made in XPeng’s wholly-owned Zhaoqing Smart EV Manufacturing Base. The Guangzhou-based EV startup on Aug. 18 broke ground on the second phase of its Zhaoqing plant. Upon completion, the phase two expansion project will increase the designed production capacity at the base from 100,000 units to 200,000 units per annum with the financial and land use support from Zhaoqing Municipal Government.

XPeng delivers 10,412 vehicles in September

Monthly deliveries of China’s electric vehicle startup XPeng Inc. nearly tripled from a year ago to over 10,000 vehicles in September and said it was the first to reach 10,000-unit monthly delivery milestone among China's new energy vehicle startups.

In September, XPeng delivered a total of 10,412 new vehicles, a new high, representing a year-on-year surge of 199% and a month-on-month jump of 44%.

XPeng’s fifth-generation “flying car” Voyager X2 expected to be launched in 2024

XPeng Huitian, the electric flying car company owned by XPeng, expects to launch in 2024 its “fifth-generation flying car” dubbed “Voyager X2”, whose research and development is being underway, Zhao Deli, founder of XPeng Huitian, revealed at the 2021 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC).

The X2 was preceded by the fourth-generation flying car, the Voyager X1, which was unveiled at the 2021 Auto Shanghai. It is more of an electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVOTL) vehicle, while XPeng refers it as a “car” perhaps because it shares many design genes as same as the P7 sedan.

The X2 is XPeng's first flying car to feature a closed cockpit, essentially designed for high-altitude flights. Compared to the X1, it boasts improvements in payload, passenger capacity, exterior design, and flight control system, etc. According to Zhao Deli, the X2 represented a phased achievement of XPeng's exploration of combining aircrafts and cars, and has experienced over 15,000 test flights.

XPeng starts shipping P7 sedans to Norway

XPeng began shipping its P7 sports sedans to Europe on August 24, according to a local media outlet, marking the company's ambition to expand globally. The shipment of the XPeng P7s will be sent to Norway and the car delivery is expected to commence there in the fourth quarter of this year.

Notably, Norway is the startup's first overseas market, where the G3i SUVs have been handed over to local consumers. The vehicles exported were adapted in charging ports and intelligence software to comply with Norwegian regulations, meet local technical standards, and suit local users' behaviors.

XPeng starts construction of Zhaoqing plant’s 2nd phase

On August 18, XPeng broke ground on the second phase of its new energy vehicle (NEV) plant in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province, as the NEV startup is striving to ramp up its production capacity to meet the fast-growing market demands.

Upon completion of the construction, the annual capacity of XPeng's Zhaoqing manufacturing base will be increased to 200,000 from the current 100,000 vehicles. According to the startup, the building of the second-phase project will be offered fiscal and land supports from Zhaoqing Municipal Government.

XPeng begins construction of Wuhan-based car plant

XPeng announced on July 31 the start of the construction for its Wuhan manufacturing plant, marking the strategic cooperation formed with Wuhan municipal government in April 2021 has been firmed up.

According to XPeng, the Wuhan-based plant covers an area of 1,500 mu (1 million square meters) where workshops dedicated to stamping, welding, painting, assembly, battery, and electric drive system will be built. It will have an annual capacity of 100,000 new vehicles and is expected to generate a production value of over 30 billion yuan ($4.64 billion) per year.

He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of XPeng, said the company's third-generation intelligent car platform—also XPeng's first global platform—will be located at the Wuhan factory.

XPeng Inc. rings opening bell on HKEX

XPeng Inc.'s stock began trading on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) on July 7, under the stock code "9868".

The company issued 85 million Class A ordinary shares at a price of HK$165 each. Those shares rose 1.8% to HK$168 in opening trade.

The surprise debut made XPeng the first smart electric vehicle manufacturer that went public on both NYSE (the New York Stock Exchange) and HKEX within one year, said Li Pengcheng, vice president of XPeng.

XPeng’s subsidiary banks 500 million yuan from Guangdong provincial investment arm

XPeng Inc. announced on March 15 it has signed an agreement with Guangdong Yuecai Investment Holdings Co., Ltd. (“Yuecai”), the investment arm of the Guangdong provincial government, for a strategic investment worth 500 million yuan ($76.872 million).

Pursuant to the agreement, Yuecai will pour the capital into Guangzhou Chengxingzhidong Automotive Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of XPeng Inc., through the Guangdong Industrial Development Fund, to help the EV manufacturer further expand business.

Xpeng Motors founds new tech subsidiary in Shenzhen

Xpeng Motors recently set up a technology company in Shenzhen, which is expected to help the startup shore up the development of ICV (intelligent-connected vehicle)-related business.

The new subsidiary, dubbed Shenzhen Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co.,Ltd. (Shenzhen Xiaopeng), is founded on Feb. 24, 2021 in Shenzhen, according to the corporate data platform Tianyancha. Involving a registered capital of 50 million yuan ($7.746 million), it is wholly controlled by Guangzhou Chengxingzhidong Automotive Technology Co., Ltd., the parent of Xpeng Motors. Xia Heng, co-founder and president of Xpeng Motors, serves as its legal representative.