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Xpeng, armed with road-tested tech, ready to take on Tesla overseas: executive

The Guangzhou-based company will expand its self-driving technology to international markets, challenging its US rival in Europe

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Brian Gu Hongdi, vice-chairman and president at Xpeng, says the Guangzhou-based company is well placed to take on Tesla in overseas markets, particularly Europe. Photo: Xpeng
Themis Qi
The president of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng said the company aims to challenge Tesla in international markets, having tested its self-driving technology in the fiercely competitive home market.

“We are very confident that we can be head-to-head competitors with Tesla,” said Brian Gu Hongdi, vice-chairman and president at Xpeng, in an interview with the South China Morning Post.

Though admitting the US carmaker’s edge as an early entrant in some European markets, Gu noted that Xpeng could be supported by the leadership of China’s automobile industry.

“The Chinese market is probably the most competitive and most innovative autonomous driving market in the world,” Gu said. “The confidence comes from the fact that we are trained in the most (intense) fit gym in the world.”

Gu’s comments come as more Chinese carmakers are expanding the competition in overseas markets to underlying technologies, beyond their initial push to boost exports amid domestic pressures.

Xpeng unveiled its Mona L03 model in Hong Kong on Friday, one week after its debut in mainland China. The compact sport-utility vehicle is scheduled to launch in Munich on Thursday.

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