Europe offensive: Xpeng enters five more markets

Xpeng is pushing ahead with its European expansion and is now entering five additional countries - Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia. The Chinese carmaker relies on different sales models, from partnerships with established players to building its own dealer network.

Xpeng announced its market entry into five additional European countries on 26 September. The move covers Switzerland, Austria, Hungary as well as the Balkan states Slovenia and Croatia. The manufacturer is pursuing a similarly strong expansion strategy as Nio. When it comes to sales, the Chinese EV startup takes different approaches in different markets.

In Switzerland, Xpeng partners with Swedish dealer giant Hedin Mobility Group. The cooperation will create a nationwide retail network, starting with the Hedin Automotive site in Dielsdorf. By the end of 2025, eight to ten dealers will sell the Xpeng G6 and G9, with another ten to twenty expected by the end of 2026 when the P7+ fastback saloon joins the line-up. Hedin will also integrate its seven existing showrooms in Switzerland into the Xpeng network.

Austria will follow in October. Here, Xpeng applies the same model as in Germany and builds its own dealer network. The first locations will be in the country’s major cities – Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and Klagenfurt. By the end of this year, Xpeng plans to have ten dealers in Austria, rising to twenty by the end of 2026. According to Markus Schrick, head of Central Europe, the expansion of the now 35-site network in Germany is progressing well, which is why the model is being transferred to Austria.

In Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia, Xpeng is taking a different route. The carmaker is entering a joint venture with AutoWallis and Portugal’s Salvador Caetano Group. Xpeng aims to use its partners’ existing resources and structures to establish a broad sales and service network. Pop-up stores in Ljubljana, Budapest and Zagreb will introduce the brand and its SUV models G6 and G9 to local customers.

Xpeng has accelerated its western expansion in recent years. Over the next decade, export markets are expected to account for half of its sales. From January to the end of August, the company sold 24,702 cars outside China – a 137 per cent increase year-on-year. Xpeng now also builds cars in Europe: in cooperation with Magna, G6 and G9 units for local markets are already rolling off the production line in Austria.

cnevpost.com

This article was first published by Elias Holdenried for electrive’s German edition.