On May 28, XPeng officially launched the MONA M03 Max edition. Following the event, Chairman He Xiaopeng and several senior executives participated in a group interview with media outlets, discussing topics such as market competition, intelligent driving technologies, overseas strategy, and product planning.
Below is a curated summary of the interview:
Q: What’s next for the XPeng brand?
A: We’ll launch the all-new P7 in Q3. While the X9 is a niche product, it has ranked first in the MPV segment for 70% of the time. With the upcoming Ultra Range version, its sales are expected to grow significantly.
By the end of the year, XPeng will move from “stabilizing” to a phase of “steady acceleration.”
Q: Will the MONA M03 be exported?
A: While we can’t disclose specific models, the MONA series is designed for global markets and will eventually be introduced overseas. Our overseas expansion will be selective rather than rushed. Going global requires collaboration with local partners, robust infrastructure, and a focus on quality. We’d rather go slower and do it right.
Q: With intensifying competition, will the “involution” of the EV industry worsen?
A: We’re not even at the most intense stage yet — the next 5 to 10 years will see even fiercer competition. But we don’t want a price war; we’d rather compete on technology, expand globally, and invest in embodied intelligence.
Q: Intelligent driving is a key highlight of the new model. How does XPeng view computing power needs?
A: Computing power is never enough. While 500 TOPS is a strong L2 baseline, higher-level experiences will demand more. In the future, the first question when buying a car should be, “How much compute power does it have?” But compute alone isn’t enough — software capabilities and long-term OTA upgrades matter even more.
Q: Why was the launch of the Max version delayed?
A: We wanted to deliver the “fully equipped version” XPeng AI experience, which involved challenges across electrical architecture, software-hardware tuning, and system integration.
Q: Will MONA operate as an independent brand?
A: No. XPeng remains the sole brand. MONA represents a different product category and price point. We’re committed to a unified brand and a platform-based software ecosystem — that’s where the industry is heading.
Q: What’s your view on the recent cooling of hype around intelligent driving?
A: It’s actually a good thing. Slowing down helps ensure quality. This is not a setback.
Q: Is human-machine co-driving the same as L3?
A: We set a high bar for L3. Current human-machine co-driving solutions do not meet our definition. We’ll provide clearer explanations on hardware and software requirements in the future.
Q: How are the boundaries of human-machine co-driving defined?
A: The system can prompt driver intervention via voice and UI cues. For instance, turning the wheel or pressing the brake on the highway will disengage the system. We’re continuously refining boundary recognition using real-world data.
Q: With advanced smart driving now available in RMB 130,000-level vehicles, is the software business model still viable?
A: Absolutely — for the next decade and beyond. The bar has simply been raised: from 80 points being “good enough” to now aiming for 100,000 points. As capability grows, so does software value.
Q: Can smart driving become a premium feature for high-end models?
A: In the future, software and AI could account for half of a vehicle’s total value. Once our in-house chips go into production, there will be a new logic to pricing — different users will pay for different functions.
Q: How does XPeng maintain profitability while pursuing aggressive pricing?
A: We’re not blindly pursuing low prices — the X9, for example, isn’t engaged in a price war. We’ve invested over RMB 10 billion in R&D, and margins are still improving. XPeng’s investments are efficient and focused on core technologies.
Q: Will MONA models use XPeng’s in-house chips? How do you differentiate between XPeng’s mainline and MONA products?
A: There’ll be different chips around. Even if the hardware is the same, we won’t cut down the software. The software should be pretty close to the same hardware, but we can still make it different in its own way.
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