Fresh wave of Chinese XPENG EVs to hit Aussie roads as BYD and Tesla face new turf war: 'Growing demand'

There will be 1,000 XPENG G6s hitting Australia every month soon and it could shake up the EV market. ((Source: TrueEV))

Another Chinese-made electric car brand has vowed to disrupt the already-competitive Australian EV market currently dominated by Tesla and Chinese carmaker BYD. XPENG has claimed "growing demand" in Australia has warranted ramping up the delivery of its mid-size SUV to 1,000 a month from August. 

TrueEV is exclusively importing XPENG to Australia and CEO Jason Clarke has claimed the brand will be "among the top five pure EV brands in Australia within the next three years", throwing down the gauntlet to current market leaders. 

Comparatively, BYD's newest SUV the Sealion 7 retails at $54,990 for its premium model, or $63,99 for the performance model. 

Clarke said there are already "thousands" of XPENG G6s on Australian roads, but the model has recently undergone several upgrades.

"We view this as an opportunity to demonstrate what the next generation of EVs can deliver in both technology and driver experience,” Clarke said.

“XPENG is at the frontier of AI and smart driving, and Australian drivers are responding to that in a big way.”

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There's a new rear end that has a ducktail spoiler and revised bumper, new wheel options and side mirrors, which flash blue when the car is operating in semi-autonomous mode, and a much bigger operating screen. 

The original G6 sported a touchscreen that was 14.9 inches wide; however, this updated model now comes with a screen that's 15.6 inches wide. 

It's also capable of travelling 45 kilometres further than its predecessor after its battery capacity was reportedly boosted from 66kWh to 68.5kWh. 

However, the bigger version's battery has been cut from 87.5kWh to 80.8kWh, which equates to 25 kilometres less in range. 

XPENG has plans to launch two more models, the G9 and X9, in Australia by the end of the year. 

Tesla still holds the crown in Australia, however it is coming up against some significant competition. 

The carmaker accounted for 42 per cent of all EVs sold here in 2024, but its sales fell by 16.9 per cent compared to the year prior. 

The Model Y was the single best-selling EV in Australia last year, with more than 21,000 vehicles purchased. 

But BYD is hot on the heels of Elon Musk's company and offloaded a whopping 8,000 EVs in June alone, which was its best-ever sales month in Australia. 

BYD is fast becoming a major rival to Tesla in Australia and posted a 368 per cent increase in sales over 12 months to June this year. ((Source: Getty))

That's a 368 per cent increase in sales compared to June last year. 

Other players that continue to compete in the middle tier include well-known brands like MG, Kia, and BMW, while Volvo, Hyundai, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen are also carving out a smaller piece of the pie. 

Currently, 77 per cent of all EVs sold in Australia have come from China, and the country is set to drastically change how Aussie roads will look in the future. 

The Asian superpower is set to dominate the Australian market over the next decade, according to the Centre for International Economics. 

New data found that 43 per cent of all car imports to Australia will be from China by 2035, and push other automotive powerhouses like Japan, South Korea, and Thailand down massively. 

Dozens of brands exist in China and could soon try to make their mark in Australia. 

While this will provide buyers with a massive amount of choice, CarExpert.com.au founder Paul Maric told Yahoo Finance you need to be careful about which one you choose. 

The new G6 offers 'adaptive front comfort' with 12-way electric adjustment memory and a full-recline with footrest.

"You might buy something that's great value today, but that brand may not exist in five or 10 years' time," he said.

"All of a sudden, you've got a car that you can't sell, a car that you can't get parts for, and a manufacturer that has just closed up shop and disappeared.

"So while there is a lot of value to be had, I would just tread carefully with what you're actually buying."

He said some of these Chinese brands have only been around for a few years and might not have the staying power to remain in Australia. 

Others might be overwhelmed by the competition here and be forced to pull out due to lack of sales.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Finance AU at https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/fresh-wave-of-chinese-xpeng-evs-to-hit-aussie-roads-as-byd-and-tesla-face-new-turf-war-growing-demand-040024990.html

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