China’s Xpeng to launch right-hand drive, 7-seater EV in Hong Kong in the fourth quarter

Chinese electric vehicle maker (EV) Xpeng will roll-out a right-hand drive version of its 7-seater multipurpose vehicle (MPV) for the Hong Kong market in the fourth quarter, a senior company official said, as the company inaugurated its first showroom in the city at the Yoho Mix shopping centre in Yuen Long.

Within two months of entering the Hong Kong market, the Guangzhou-headquartered company has recorded over 500 orders, amid growing popularity of its G6 SUV and its X9 MPV, Jerry Tam, Xpeng’s regional general manager said in an interview on the sidelines of the showroom launch on Friday.

“The Hong Kong market is an important strategic channel for Xpeng to enter the international market,” said Xpeng’s Tam.

The first batch of G6 SUVs will be handed to car buyers in Hong Kong in the third quarter, he said.

In April, Xpeng partnered with Malaysian automotive-to-property conglomerate Sime Darby group to distribute its cars in Hong Kong.

The five-seat G6, which has a driving range of 580km, is priced upwards of HK$299,900 (US$38,400) and is eligible for the government’s one-for-one replacement scheme. The seven-seater X9, whose basic edition can go as far as 610km on a single charge, starts from HK$500,000.

Chinese carmaker Geely’s premium electric-vehicle unit Zeekr also debuted its 009, a six-seater pure electric MPV and its right-hand drive variant, in Hong Kong on Friday, Zeekr’s first launch event outside mainland China.

First premiered in mainland China in 2022, the updated Zeekr 009 offers customisable options for seating, battery, and power train, among other features. Zeekr plans to start handing its all-new 009 vehicles to customers in China next week, followed by official deliveries of the RHD versions later this year.

Zeekr, based in Ningbo, eastern Hangzhou province, went public on the New York Stock Exchange in May, raising about US$441 million. The IPO, which valued the company at US$5.1 billion, is the largest by a Chinese company in the US since Full Truck Alliance raised US$1.6 billion from its New York listing in June 2021, according to exchange data.

Since Zeekr October 2021, the brand has delivered over 280,000 vehicles, according to the company. With operations in Gothenburg and Shanghai, Zeekr announced plans earlier this year to sell its EVs in 50 countries and regions by the end of 2024.