Announced last July, the alliance between Volkswagen and the Chinese brand Xpeng today takes a new step. The two partners have just signed this collaboration, which will lead to two new electric cars. The first will be an SUV.
Still unknown and somewhat marginal a few years ago, Chinese manufacturers are now taking an increasingly important place in the market. In their country, of course, but also internationally, and particularly in Europe.
A new alliance
We obviously think of BYD, which has just become the world number 1 in electric ahead of Tesla, but not only that. In fact, more and more European brands are also deciding to collaborate with these manufacturers. This is for example the case of Audi, which has teamed up with IM Motors, which has just presented two models at the Geneva Motor Show. We also think of Stellantis, which now owns shares in the Leapmotor brand, which markets its T03 here.
Last July, Volkswagen also announced the creation of an alliance with another manufacturer from the Middle Kingdom. This is Xpeng, which is starting to arrive in Europe and which will market its G9 capable of charging in just 15 minutes. Last January, we learned that the two companies were planning to launch two new cars as part of this partnership. And now it is finally starting to come to fruition.
The Chinese site It Home relays new information and claims that Xpeng Motors has signed a technological cooperation agreement with the Volkswagen group. Thus, the latter will acquire 4.99% share of the Chinese brand, while the two partners pool their expertise. They will notably share their innovations in terms of platforms and software, among others. While the details are not yet known, we know that this agreement will accelerate the development of future shared cars.
Two should already see the light of day, taking the form of electric SUVs, as mentioned previously. But that’s not all, because this agreement also includes a plan tojoint purchase of parts and components. Enough to allow both companies to make significant savings in development and production. As a result, margins should increase, since prices should fall. And this while BYD predicted an even more intense price war.
Two electric models
Furthermore, this new partnership will also help Volkswagen take even more space in China, one of the most important markets for the group. Enough to also allow the company to regain momentum, after a very difficult year due to software problems and disappointing sales. So much so that the production of certain models like the ID.3 and the Cupra Born even had to be paused.
The manufacturer, which recently unveiled a vast plan of attack, should therefore benefit from this partnership, which will give rise to two cars sold with its logo. However, it is said that they will mainly inherit the technologies developed by Xpeng. Among them, fast charge from 10 to 80% in just 15 minutesas well as the Chinese brand’s platform.
Will the Asian manufacturer’s impressive autonomous driving be on the program? At the moment, this has not yet been confirmed by the respective spokespersons of the two brands. But this cannot be excluded, in order to compete with Tesla’s Autopilot as well as its FSD (full self-driving), which should soon arrive in Europe. It also remains to be seen whether these two vehicles will also be sold here or only in China.
They should in any case display generous dimensions, since they will take the technical basis of the Xpeng G9, which measures 4.89 meters long and which rivals the Tesla Model see the light of day by 2026. The other big question is whether these cars will only be sold in China, or also in Europe.
Want to join a community of enthusiasts? Our Discord welcomes you, it is a place of mutual help and passion around tech.