The Chinese XPENG acquires the Top 14 Rugby
- Published on 19/03/2026 11:28
XPENG enters the hearts of French households by becoming the Official Car of the TOP 14 until 2029.
Imagine stadiums buzzing, explosive scrums, and in the parking lot, cutting-edge XPENGs charging in 12 minutes. This is the new reality of French rugby: the Chinese manufacturer XPENG has just been named the Official Car and Official Supplier of the TOP 14 until 2029.
For a relatively young car brand in Europe, especially a Chinese one, to display itself alongside the championship experiencing the highest growth rate in France is a smart choice. Rugby embodies the image of a virile but healthy sport, collective, rooted in communities, family-oriented, and popular. These values align perfectly with XPENG’s ambition: to democratize high-end, intelligent, and accessible electric cars.
Have no fear!
“We wanted a showcase that speaks to the heart of the French, not just to their logic,” Thomas Rodier, Marketing Director of XPENG France, essentially confides. With its AI-enhanced models, ultra-fast batteries, and Software Defined Vehicle concept, the brand finds in modern rugby – where data and tactics matter as much as muscles – an ideal mirror.
The network is already established: 80 XPENG dealerships deployed across France, including one in each of the 14 cities of the TOP 14. Supporters from Toulouse, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, or Clermont will soon be able to test these electric sedans and SUVs right next to the stadium. This proximity changes everything.
“This partnership shows that the TOP 14 now attracts the most innovative players from all over the world,” says Yann Roubert, President of the National Rugby League. “XPENG brings modernity while respecting our territorial roots.”
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Stadium visibility, fan activations, digital campaigns… XPENG is betting big on this deal to transform its image from “Chinese tech” to that of a premium, dynamic brand close to the people. At a time when electric cars are still trying to win over the general public, associating its name with family rugby afternoons could well be the key to its breakthrough in France.
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This page is translated from the original post "Le chinois XPENG s’offre le Top 14 de Rugby" in French.
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