How Xpeng will take on Tesla as Chinese carmakers drive overseas EV competition

Xpeng will expand its self-driving technology to international markets, challenging Tesla in Europe. The Chinese carmaker's president expressed confidence in competing head-to-head with Tesla, citing the competitive Chinese market as a training ground.

How Xpeng will take on Tesla as Chinese carmakers drive overseas EV competition The Guangzhou-based company will expand its self-driving technology to international markets, challenging its US rival in Europe Tesla https://www.scmp.com/topics/tesla?module=inline&pgtype=article in international markets with its self-driving technology https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3354034/chinese-firm-xpeng-builds-driverless-cabs-likely-challenge-teslas-fsd-software-ai-race?module=inline&pgtype=article tested in the fiercely competitive home market. Chinese carmakers https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3359461/chinas-carmakers-are-rewriting-europes-auto-hierarchy-japanese-rivals-lose-ground?module=inline&pgtype=article are expanding the competition in overseas markets to technology, beyond the initial push to boost exports amid domestic pressures. “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.” Xpeng unveiled its Mona L03 model in Hong Kong on Friday, one week after the debut in mainland China, which will be followed by a launch in Munich on July 16.