- The top-trim battery-electric version of the Xpeng GX faces the longest delivery wait times, while other variants remain in relatively ample supply.
- Aggressive pricing and exclusive tech features have driven strong initial reception for the Xpeng GX.
Xpeng's (NYSE: XPEV) latest flagship SUV (sport utility vehicle), the GX, appears to have garnered strong initial reception, leading to significantly extended delivery wait times for the model.
Chinese consumers ordering the top-trim battery-electric Ultra flagship version now face a delivery wait of up to 29 weeks, according to information on the company's mobile app.
Xpeng officially launched the GX on May 20, offering both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) versions, equipped with one to three Turing AI driving chips depending on the variant.
The top-tier Ultra flagship editions accounted for over 80% of the 24,863 firm orders the GX SUV received within the first 12 hours of its launch, the company said on Weibo on May 21.
According to the latest expected delivery schedule, the estimated delivery cycle for the pure-electric Ultra flagship version is 25 to 29 weeks.
In contrast, lower-trim versions are in relatively ample supply, with the other three BEV variants requiring a wait of just 5 to 7 weeks.
The wait time for the extended-range Ultra flagship version has also reached 12 to 14 weeks, while the other three EREV versions have wait times of 4 to 6 weeks or 5 to 7 weeks.
The strong appeal of the pure-electric flagship version stems primarily from its exclusive high-end tech features. This variant exclusively features a steer-by-wire chassis, AI-dimming privacy glass, and a large-capacity 110-kilowatt-hour battery pack.
To capture a larger share of the mid-to-high-end family user market, Xpeng has adopted an aggressive pricing strategy for the GX. The model has a limited-time starting price of 269,800 yuan ($39,790), significantly lower than the previously announced pre-sales price of 399,800 yuan.
The official starting guide price for the top-trim pure-electric Ultra flagship version is 359,800 yuan, which is also eligible for a limited-time discount of 10,000 yuan, bringing the actual starting price down to 349,800 yuan.
In terms of smart features, the GX is built to L4 autonomous driving standards and adopts flexible computing power allocation. The entry-level version is equipped with one Xpeng in-house developed Turing chip, while the top-trim Ultra flagship version is equipped with three.
This powerful hardware combination provides up to 2,250 TOPS of computing power for smart driving. It supports a LiDAR-free, pure-vision autonomous driving solution to handle more complex, all-scenario smart driver assistance.
The robust initial orders serve as a positive signal for the Chinese EV maker. Between January and April this year, Xpeng delivered a cumulative 93,693 vehicles, down 27.40% from the same period last year.
The new model will be a key driver for Xpeng to boost its overall sales this year. In a recent research report, the Deutsche Bank team noted that with its highly competitive size and technology, the GX is expected to achieve sales of 5,000 units per month.
($1 = 6.781 yuan)
