"I expect that within the next three, five, or ten years, XPeng's overseas sales, cooperation, and empowerment will reach a 1:1 ratio with the Chinese market, or even higher."
This is the clear goal set by He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPeng, for the company's globalization process. In his view, 2026 will be a year of rapid growth for XPeng, with the growth rate in overseas markets exceeding that of the domestic market. To achieve all this, XPeng needs to comprehensively intensify the development of its overseas markets. On January 13, XPeng stated that the company plans to establish independently operating local supply chain teams in Europe and ASEAN markets by 2026. This move aims to support and deepen the layout and operation of overseas supply resources and enhance the responsiveness of the supply chain. Following the supply chain layout, XPeng will establish a comprehensive local system in Europe covering production, supply chain, and after-sales service. The benefits of this deep localization are evident. It can significantly shorten vehicle delivery cycles, allowing local consumers to receive their cars faster; it can also effectively reduce import tariff costs and enhance product price competitiveness. Prior to this, XPeng's globalization strategy has clearly shown a dual-track advancement pattern focusing on "Southeast Asia - Europe." The year 2025 became a critical watershed in its overseas expansion: from Indonesia to Austria, and then to Malaysia, three major overseas production bases were established successively within just half a year. As XPeng's first overseas production base, Indonesia holds a certain pilot significance. In July 2025, the right-hand drive version of the XPeng X9 officially began production in Jakarta, Indonesia, with a starting price of 990 million Indonesian Rupiah (approximately 440,000 RMB), targeting the largest automotive market in Southeast Asia. Progress in the European market has been equally rapid. In September 2025, XPeng collaborated with Magna's factory located in Graz, Austria. Leveraging the factory's existing mature production lines, this partnership aims to advance the localization of electric vehicle production in Europe. The first batches of XPeng G6 and G9 models produced locally in Europe have successfully rolled off the production line. The Malaysia project carries a more profound strategic intent. Malaysia possesses a mature automotive industry chain, a convenient regional logistics network, and experience in producing right-hand drive vehicles suitable for many ASEAN countries, making it an ideal strategic hub for XPeng to radiate across the entire Southeast Asian market. Late last year, XPeng officially announced that it had signed an agreement with Malaysia's EPMB Group, formally initiating its local production project in Malaysia. According to the plan, the XPeng G6 is scheduled to begin production in Malaysia by the end of March 2026, and the X9 model (including the X9 extended-range version) is planned for production in May 2026. Localized production directly addresses two major pain points: high tariffs and long supply chain cycles. For instance, in ASEAN markets, tariffs on an imported car can be as high as 30% to 50%. After localization, this cost can be significantly reduced. Simultaneously, a shorter supply chain means faster market response times, allowing for quick product adjustments based on local demand. Furthermore, XPeng's globalization is also reflected in its research and development efforts. In September 2025, XPeng's Munich R&D Center in Germany was officially opened. This is its first R&D center in Europe and its ninth major R&D center globally. The synergy between R&D and production is already becoming apparent. Taking the European market as an example, XPeng utilizes its Munich R&D center to understand local user needs, followed by localized production at the Graz factory in Austria, forming a strategic European closed-loop of "R&D + production." This model ensures that products are better adapted to local market demands. Recently, He Xiaopeng was also in the United States on a business trip, experiencing intelligent driving technology and engaging with the local R&D team. In a previous interview, He Xiaopeng stated that in the second half of 2026, XPeng plans to bring its autonomous driving capabilities to the global market. Currently, XPeng is accelerating the global launch of extended-range models. After adopting the dual-technology roadmap of "pure electric + extended-range," XPeng can focus on pure electric models in markets with well-developed charging infrastructure; meanwhile, in markets like Southeast Asia where charging infrastructure is still developing, extended-range models will also become a strategic focus. With the deepening of its localization strategy, XPeng's overseas sales have shown explosive growth. From January to December 2025, XPeng delivered 45,008 vehicles in overseas markets, a year-on-year increase of 96%. This data indicates XPeng's strong expansion momentum in international markets. Since last year, although new automakers like XPeng have reached a monthly sales level of around 30,000 units, the intensity of industry competition demands that these companies cannot be satisfied with their current scale if they wish to remain at the final table; they need to continue expanding their markets. The vast overseas market is the common choice for these automakers. He Xiaopeng's goal of "more than half of sales coming from overseas in the next ten years" is gradually becoming a reality. As overseas localized production deepens, XPeng's global competitiveness will be further enhanced. With the mass production at the Malaysia factory in 2026 and the establishment of the European supply chain team, XPeng's globalization strategy will enter a new phase. Simultaneously, the story of Chinese cars overseas is upgrading from the old script of "selling products" to a grand performance of "global manufacturing," involving deep participation in the global industrial chain. The road ahead is still long, but the direction is clear.
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