What if Xpeng was the pleasant surprise of the Paris Motor Show?

The stars of the World Cup will indeed be our dear French manufacturers and the giants Tesla and BYD, but Xpeng could surprise.

Xpeng had invited us earlier this year to a presentation of its two first vehicles marketed in Europe, and we were able to gauge how well-structured its development ambitions on the old continent are. This Chinese manufacturer is still relatively unknown to us, but is certainly one of the most creative and is starting to make quite an impression in its local market. This dynamism has earned it the flattering nickname of “Chinese Tesla.”

It is no surprise that its approach to the European market is a clone of the Model Y. The Xpeng G6 is already available for order in four European countries: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The next unofficial step will be France.

Mona, the unexpected guest?

But Xpeng has just introduced its new model, the Mona M03, the result of more than four years of research and development and an investment exceeding 500 million dollars. We are far from a hastily cobbled-together four-wheeled contraption, you would agree. It features a decidedly modern design that is inevitably divisive, with a very clever rear hatch that offers a cargo area worthy of a van.

But its crucial advantage, as you have understood, is a price down to earth at 119,800 yuan, which is… 15,250 euros! Equipped with a 62 kWh LFP battery, it promises more than 600 km of range in the Chinese CLTC cycle, which will likely translate to about 500 km once adjusted by the European WLTP standards. To ensure efficiency, the weight is kept under 1,800 kg, and Xpeng boasts one of the best drag coefficients in the entire automotive industry. This is certainly a bit ambitious given the lines of the vehicle, but the approach is intelligent nonetheless. A better coefficient of air penetration means less drag, so less energy used for movement, hence more range. Ultimately, it allows for the option to choose the cheapest batteries and motors available on the market to lower the costs. Add to that a massive use of artificial intelligence in all stages of design, and you get a price that, according to Xpeng, still allows for a profit margin.

On the other hand, there is no question of skimping on technological features, with up to 12 external cameras and 15 radars. Everything needed to take the leap into autonomy, which is Xpeng’s primary ambition. When you know that the company is at the forefront of research on autonomous eVTOLs, or electric flying taxis, there is no reason to mock or doubt.

With 30,000 orders recorded in 48 hours in China, the car is undoubtedly appealing, that’s for sure. So Xpeng is undoubtedly a serious challenger to Tesla, BYD, MG and others, but is it the future star of tomorrow? The best option is still to go form your own opinion at Porte de Versailles at stand 6A51 in Hall 6.