Xpeng signs distribution agreement in North Africa

The Chinese EV maker says it has just signed agreements with 'leading distributors' in Morocco and Tunisia. Following its earlier entry into Egypt, Xpeng says it now has a 'solid foundation' on the North African Mediterranean coast.

In essence, Xpeng has signed agreements with local distributors to drive expansion in Morocco and Tunisia. In Morocco, the Chinese firm’s strategic partner is SMEIA, the general agent group of luxury car brands sold locally in Morocco. Xpeng states it currently has a market share of over 30-per cent in the luxury car segment, and that an independent brand team will deliver operations for Xpeng in Morocco.

Then, there’s Tunisia. Here, Xpeng’s strategic partner will be XP CARS Tunisia, a local car dealership group focused on the premium segment. Xpeng states it has “rich and successful experience in introducing automotive brands from scratch in Tunisia”, and that it will provide after-sales guarantees to customers.

It’s not yet clear which EVs will be sold in the two North African countries. In 2024, Xpeng launched both the G6 and P7 EVs in Egypt, making it the first Chinese EV maker to sell battery-electric vehicles in the country. This was done so both through the official Xpeng website and through local dealerships, although detailed sales data hasn’t bene publicly shared.

The company’s activities in Morocco and Tunisia can be seen in the context of broader ambitions for the African continent. Xpeng says that its activity in North Africa lays “a solid foundation for expanding into the sub-Saharan African market”. While details on this remain thin, the company has said that the likes of South Africa and Kenya “may become the next stage’s expansion targets” – although nothing is yet set in stone.

Wang Ke, General Manager of XPENG’s Middle East and Africa Region, said: “Africa is one of the key pieces of our global strategy. Morocco, as one of Africa’s largest automobile producers, has a mature automotive industry chain; Tunisia, with its geographical location adjacent to Europe, has become a strategic hub connecting the African and European markets. The addition of Morocco and Tunisia marks that we have formed a strong and comprehensive market coverage along the North African coastal economic belt.”

xpeng.com