XPENG Enters Poland & Thailand – CleanTechnica

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Last Updated on: 27th February 2025, 01:17 am

XPENG* is continuing its pretty significant global expansion. In the past few days, it has taken steps to enter Poland and Thailand, after bringing its cars to several other new markets in the past year. The Chinese smart EV startup is setting up infrastructure and partnerships around the world with the intention of becoming a global brand like BMW or Honda one day. That’s the dream, it seems.

As the fossil-powered car era comes to an end, the question is whether old legacy auto brands fold, evolve, or get swallowed up by new, successful EV companies. Can XPENG really grow into a major auto brand in markets like Poland, the Netherlands, and Thailand? Or will it have much more potential for growth through partnerships with big legacy brands like Volkswagen? Well, the company is going both routes at the moment. Let’s see how things go.

XPENG in Poland

XPENG sales in Poland will begin in the 2nd quarter of this year. It is entering the market with three models — the P7 (sedan), the G6 (coupe SUV), and the G9 (SUV). Its distribution and strategic partner in the country, as just announced today, is Inchcape. Inchcape’s main business in Poland is as a distributor of BMWs.

All three of the models XPENG is bringing to Poland have earned the Euro NCAP 5-star safety rating, the highest possible.

The company appears to have big hopes and plans for the Polish market, a market that has been fairly neglected by other EV sellers despite having quite a bit of potential. However, XPENG’s offerings may be a perfect fit — smart, advanced EVs, yet not at crazy high prices. Also, Polish consumers are quite tech savvy and interested in new tech. Having lived there for 11 years, I could see the country opening its arms to XPENG vehicles — and much more so now that Tesla is being shunned there because of Elon Musk’s far right-wing political leanings and apparent siding with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine. “There is no justification for any reasonable Pole to continue purchasing Teslas,” Minister of Sport and Tourism Sławomir Nitras said in January. “A serious and strong response is necessary, including a consumer boycott.” Tesla was an extremely popular brand in Poland a few years ago, and even a decade ago. However, I’m sure the sentiment expressed by Mr. Nitras has spread far, wide, and deep in Poland. Many will be happy to turn to an XPENG instead, especially once they see how advanced the tech is.

“Poland represents the largest market for XPENG in Central and Eastern Europe,” the company writes. “XPENG is a young and dynamic company that has a unique Hi-Tech DNA. Founded in 2014 with the first cars manufactured in 2018, XPENG has made name as the fastest growing car company in the world. XPENG has manufactured and sold more than 620,000 smart EV’s. At the end of 2025 XPENG will be available in more than 60 countries. XPENG’s DNA resolutely built around technology, inspires it to contribute to the future of mobility.” That’s a story Polish people will get behind. The company agrees. “Poland represents a strategic market for XPENG’s European expansion, with the company confident that its offering will generate significant interest, mirroring its success in other European countries,” XPENG adds.

“Poland is the largest market for us in Central and Eastern Europe. Over the past 25 years, it has experienced sustained economic growth, making it one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent. These factors position Poland as an ideal market for cutting-edge automotive technology and sustainable mobility solutions. We firmly believe that our vehicles will resonate with Polish consumers, offering unparalleled quality, technological advancement, and an exceptional driving experience,” Alex Tang, Head of International Division of Sales and Service at XPENG, says.

In Europe, XPENG is already in Norway, Germany, France, the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland. Along with Poland, it will soon be entering Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

XPENG in Thailand

XPENG also just entered the Thailand market this week. It kicked things off by shipping 300 units of the X9 to Thailand. The X9 is a 7-seat MPV, and these are right-hand drive units XPENG is sending there. The X9 was the top selling fully electric MPV in China in 2024, and the company has big expectations for it in other Asian markets.

“Earlier this year, the X9 debuted in Thailand, receiving exceptionally positive reception with its starship-inspired exterior design, versatile in-car space, active rear-wheel steering, robust body structure, and high safety standards. These features make it an ideal choice for family travel, offering an optimal blend of luxury, comfort, space, and innovative technology,” the company wrote.

Furthermore, the company is planning to launch an ultrafast charging network in Southeast Asia, and that will be initiated in Thailand and Hong Kong. However, plans are to extend it all the way into Europe and Australia.

“We are accelerating our global expansion with a series of initiatives to solidify our position as a key player in the international EV market,” said He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPENG. “As a leader in intelligent driving technology, we are thrilled to see that ‘autonomous driving for all’ has become a shared vision across the industry. We will continue pushing the boundaries of innovation to make smart driving accessible to everyone, everywhere.”

Let’s see what happens. As the company noted above, it’s been the fastest growing car company in the world since its launch in 2018. Almost all of that growth has been in China, but the company is now clearly trying to spread its wings and keep growing rapidly thanks to a bigger and bigger presence outside of China as well. Diversifying its sales presence geographically will also help to insulate the company from any major changes that happen in the Chinese market. It’s often a good idea to diversify.

See more XPENG news, including XPENG sales trends.

*Full disclosure: I hold shares of XPENG [NYSE:XPEV]. I don’t currently have any plans to sell those shares or buy more.