Guangzhou-based brand with heavy focus on AI says it will send all future models to Australia as it kicks off an aggressive product launch schedule from next month
Chinese carmaker XPeng’s international markets boss Alex Tang has confirmed to Chasing Cars that the brand is about to commence a major product offensive in Australia with at least four new models launching locally before the end of 2026.
While a single XPeng model—the Tesla Model Y-rivalling G6 midsize SUV—was introduced to Australia in September 2024, the brand was until recently represented by local distribution company TrueEV.
However, XPeng’s Guangzhou-based headquarters will begin selling and servicing the cars, with TrueEV having commenced litigation against the Chinese company that describes itself as a technology company that merely happens to build cars.
XPeng is keen to hit the reset button in Australia and it will do so in the form of a substantial marketing event in July, where the company will introduce an upgraded version of the G6 and provide a timeline for the Australian launch of the company’s VLA 2.0 self-driving tech.
International marketing lead Daniel Wu told Australian media that XPeng perceives that VLA 2.0 is the only true competitor to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) suite, which became available to customers earlier this year.
Commencing the product offensive with a facelift of the current G6 might seem like a modest start, but the changes are relatively substantial under the skin with the crossover gaining faster 450kW charging and smarter ‘Turing AI’ chips that can support VLA 2.0.
While the new G6 will be built from the factory with hardware that will allow VLA 2.0 to be activated sometime in 2027 in Australia, unlike with Tesla’s FSD(S) system, Wu confirmed that there will be no ongoing monetary charge to activate XPeng’s self-driving feature.
Other changes to the G6 in facelift form include retuned suspension, the availability of a dual-motor AWD version and the fitment of physical air vent controls, ‘Cloud Sense’ front seats, faux wood trim and a new Qualcomm 8295 processor for the infotainment system.
From there, Wu said that XPeng would launch “nearly one car per month” for the remainder of 2026, with at least three new models set to arrive this year—and more on the way in 2027.
Two of the models now guaranteed to arrive in Australia in 2026 sit at opposite ends of the XPeng range—the company’s affordable Mona L03 midsize SUV, which will sit below the G6 in price, and the flagship G9L two-row SUV.
“The L03 will be launched in Munich next month, and we will launch it in global [spec],” said Tang. The new Mona-series crossover will be built in left- and right-hand drive from the get-go, setting it up for a rapid Australian arrival.
XPeng earlier this week released the first images of the Mona L03, and Tang confirmed that it measured approximately 4.6 metres in length and will be positioned as “a mainstream [sales] volume driver” for the brand.
Full specifications and the interior of the L03 are yet to be revealed, but it is already known that the range will consist of at least one single-motor electric model, though XPeng has filed for approvals for an extended-range plug-in hybrid version as well.
At the other end of the price spectrum, Tang confirmed that XPeng will launch its incoming G9L flagship SUV in Australia later in 2026.
Images of the G9L were first seen in May when XPeng filed for type approval for both electric and hybrid-powered verisons of the large SUV with Chinese regulators. The model is understood to have been developed with European markets in mind.
Tang confirmed that Australian pricing for the Mona L03 is still being debated internally, and XPeng has been surveying influencers and retail sources about where it should price the G9L, which will compete with cars like the BMW X5 and incoming Zeekr 8X.
While the precise identity of a fourth model scheduled for launch in Australia this year is not known, it is expected to be the XPeng X9 MPV that was initially slated for an early 2026 launch in Australia.
The X9, a luxury van that XPeng sells in China as well as in Southeast Asian markets like Indonesia and Thailand, has been spotted testing on Australian roads. Both electric and hybrid versions of the front-wheel drive MPV have been developed by the brand.
Further afield, Tang confirmed that XPeng will launch a sedan model in Australia in 2027. This may be the second-generation P7, which picked up American muscle-car styling cues when it launched in China last year.
XPeng will spend the next 12 months or so playing ‘catch up’, with a plan to rapidly build out its Australian range—but the export markets chief committed to selling every newly-released XPeng model in Australia in future.
“We have five strategic markets around the world, and Australia is one… so it’s very important that we are going to launch a lot of new models into the Australian market.
“We can commit that in future, all of the new models from [XPeng] will be developed with both left-hand drive and right-hand drive, and all of the new models will go to Australia,” said Tang.
Wu added that XPeng had changed its product development focus in 2023 or 2024 away from building cars primarily for Chinese audiences.
Latest news
About Chasing cars
Chasing Cars reviews are 100% independent.
Because we are powered by Budget Direct Insurance, we don’t receive advertising or sales revenue from car manufacturers.
We’re truly independent – giving you Australia’s best car reviews.







