- XPeng staged a Paris demonstration and expanded its smart EV tech partnerships globally, signaling a push to localize offerings and seize share from legacy and foreign rivals in Europe.
- L03 secured over 12,000 European orders in three months, XPeng delivered 100,000+ vehicles outside China including 60,000+ in Europe, and H1 international revenue averaged above €40,000 per vehicle.
- Targeting premium EV buyers and automakers like Volkswagen, execution risks include delivering display vehicles to dealerships, scaling European charging and Magna production, and adapting ADAS to local regulations.
XPeng held an event at Place Vendôme in Paris on the evening of October 11, ahead of the Paris Motor Show. Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng announced plans to expand the company’s smart EV technology partnerships to automakers worldwide.
Another focus of the event was a public demonstration of XPeng’s Next Generation Pilot (NGP) advanced driver assistance system in Paris.
Speaking at the event, He said the Paris Motor Show organizers had invited all participating automakers to join the Autonomous Lab, a public test-ride program, but only XPeng and Tesla ultimately took part.
The program begins on October 12, with XPeng using the L03 to demonstrate NGP’s capabilities on public roads in Paris. It marks the company’s first large-scale NGP demonstration program open to the media and public outside China.
XPeng began testing its intelligent driving system on public roads in Germany using the L03 in July. The company has also been working to adapt its driver assistance technology to European road conditions and traffic regulations.
XPeng is also becoming more involved in international discussions on automated driving standards.
On October 9, the company announced that it had taken on the role of secretariat representative for the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) within the Task Force on Exchange of Scenario-Relevant Information (TF-ESRI), operating under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
The task force is co-chaired by China and France, with XPeng helping coordinate its activities and facilitate information sharing on real-world automated driving scenarios.
He also shared figures on XPeng’s overseas business.
In the first half of 2026, XPeng became the best-selling battery-electric vehicle brand among Chinese EV startups in France.
Three months earlier, XPeng unveiled the L03 for global markets at a brand event in Munich. According to He, the model has secured more than 12,000 orders in Europe over the past three months, despite display vehicles having yet to arrive at local dealerships.
XPeng now has a presence in 82 countries and regions worldwide.
According to previously released company figures, XPeng has delivered more than 100,000 vehicles outside China, including over 60,000 in Europe. In France, where the company entered the market two years ago, cumulative deliveries have exceeded 6,000 units.
Overseas deliveries surpassed 20,000 vehicles for the first time in the second quarter of 2026, representing an 81% year-on-year increase. International operations accounted for approximately 25% of the company’s revenue in the first half, with an average vehicle selling price exceeding €40,000 in overseas markets.
XPeng’s charging network currently extends across more than 33 countries.
At the MONA L03 launch event in Munich in July, XPeng outlined plans to establish more than 4,000 fast-charging points across Europe over the following two years, alongside more than 1,000 company-operated ultra-fast charging stations in 13 European countries. He reiterated those plans during the Paris event.
On the R&D front, XPeng invested approximately €770 million in the first half of 2026, up nearly 30% year-on-year.
The company has established a European R&D center in Munich and has begun local vehicle manufacturing at Magna’s facility in Graz, Austria, through a partnership with the automotive supplier.
XPeng is also preparing to launch the G9L in Europe.
The flagship SUV has completed its first production trial at Magna’s Graz facility, becoming the fourth XPeng model to be produced there, following the G6, G9 and P7+.
XPeng is scheduled to hold the G9L’s European launch event on the morning of October 12, Paris time, when it will announce local pricing. The company plans to introduce the model in 64 countries and regions worldwide.
Beyond vehicle sales and local manufacturing, XPeng also announced plans to expand its technology partnerships with automakers around the world.
During his presentation, He introduced XPENG AI Engineering, a new initiative offering smart EV technology partnerships to global automakers.
The program covers vehicle development, manufacturing and after-sales services.
He specifically highlighted XPeng’s existing partnership with Volkswagen.
Volkswagen Group invested in XPeng in 2023 and became a shareholder. The two companies have since expanded their cooperation to cover joint vehicle development and electrical and electronic architecture.
He said XPeng hopes to make the technology partnership model developed with Volkswagen available to a broader range of automakers worldwide.
Beyond automotive technologies, the scope of future cooperation will also include robotics, flying cars, AI chips and foundation models for the physical world.
He also provided updates on XPeng’s Robotaxi business and humanoid robotics program.
XPeng has adopted XPENG YOYO as the global brand name for its Robotaxi business. The company said the project has completed more than 2,200 internal tests in China.
In humanoid robotics, XPeng officially opened its IRON production line in September.
The company plans to begin mass production of IRON by the end of 2026, initially deploying the robots at its dealerships, company campuses and other internal facilities. Sales and deliveries in China and overseas markets are scheduled to begin in 2027.
After concluding his presentation, He immediately left the venue to begin a series of interviews with local media.
He later told ChinaEV Home that his overseas team had scheduled 12 engagements for him that day.
In addition to the Paris event and media interviews, he also had to find time to handle business matters back in China.
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