- Chinese startup Xpeng revealed its latest model: the sleek G9 SUV.
- It's the first that Xpeng has developed specifically to sell internationally.
- It'll compete with the Tesla Model Y in Europe.
Chinese electric-vehicle startup Xpeng already competes with Tesla on its home turf, which happens to be one of Tesla's most important markets. Now Xpeng is looking to conquer Europe, and it just revealed the new SUV that's leading the charge.
The startup's newest model, the sleek G9 SUV unveiled Thursday, is the first it designed specifically to sell both in China and abroad. Xpeng started selling its P7 sedan in Norway earlier this year, and it plans to launch in more European markets.
Starting with looks, the G9 gets Xpeng's signature light strip running across its nose, which the company calls a "Robot Face." It's a striking SUV that looks decidedly high-end, at least from the few photos Xpeng has shared so far. The company hasn't revealed what the interior will look like yet, but a sizable center touchscreen is a given.
Xpeng hasn't released any specifics as far as power and range. But it did say the SUV will be able to charge at 800 volts, double the norm for today's EVs. Xpeng says it'll be able to add 200 kilometers (around 124 miles) of range in five minutes.
The G9 will come with Xpilot 4.0, the company's most advanced driver-assistance technology that rivals Tesla Autopilot. To that end, the G9 comes equipped with lidar sensors, which use lasers to generate a 3D map of a vehicle's surroundings. Lidar is widely considered to be necessary for full autonomy, but the tech has been mainly used in autonomous prototypes and not in consumer vehicles.
The G9 will go on sale in China starting in late 2022, multiple outlets reported. In Europe, it'll compete with Tesla's Model Y and Model 3, the latter of which has become one of the continent's best-selling vehicles.
