Xpeng targets UK premium EV lead with five new models

Xpeng is aiming to become the UK’s number one premium EV brand by 2028, backing the goal with five new right-hand-drive models within 12 months and around 100 retail and service sites in 2027. The company set out the plans at its first UK Brand Day, after taking over its UK operations directly.

The new models start with the L03 and G9L, and the range will include both battery-electric and Kunpeng extended-range versions. Three flagship stores will open in London and Manchester within six months, with the aim of putting most customers within about 30 minutes of an Xpeng site. Xpeng is targeting partnerships with 20 dealer groups and leasing companies in 2027, backed by a national parts hub that can supply stores within 24 hours.

Xpeng also plans to introduce its NGP driver assistance system, powered by its VLA 2.0 model, in the UK in 2027, and it is exploring robotaxi services and its Iron humanoid robot for the market.

“The UK is a strategically important market for XPENG, and we see significant opportunities to build a strong, long-term presence here, with the ambition of becoming the UK’s number one premium EV brand by 2028,” said Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and President of Xpeng.

The UK has not matched the EU’s tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, which makes it one of the most contested markets for Chinese brands. Leading the premium EV segment would mean overtaking established names such as BMW and Tesla within two years. The extended-range models widen Xpeng’s appeal beyond pure EV buyers, and its Google Play integration, due in early 2027, addresses a common weakness of Chinese brands abroad.

Why this matters:

• The UK becomes an open door. With no UK equivalent to the EU’s countervailing duties on Chinese BEVs as of yet, Xpeng’s push to around 100 locations suggests Chinese automakers see Britain as one of Europe’s most accessible markets, though exclusion from the Electric Car Grant blunts their price advantage.
• Range extenders target hesitant buyers. Offering Kunpeng REEVs alongside BEVs suggests Chinese brands see extended-range models as a way to win drivers wary of charging, even though only zero-emission sales count toward the UK’s ZEV mandate.
• Autonomy plans meet UK regulation. Targeting 2027 for NGP and exploring robotaxi services coincides with implementation of the Automated Vehicles Act, though Chinese-developed driving software is likely to face scrutiny over data security.