EU tariffs not a deterrent, says Chinese EV maker XPeng

An Xpeng G6 electrical car astatine the opening of their 2nd flagship store successful Hong Kong connected March 21, 2025. Photo: Peter PARKS / AFP
Source: AFP

Chinese electrical conveyance shaper XPeng said Friday that European Union tariffs connected EVs made successful China person had a "large economical impact" but volition not deter the firm's plans to pat European markets.

Brussels decided to enforce tariffs successful October of up to 35.3 percent connected imports of Chinese electrical cars, citing alleged subsidies that springiness them an unfair vantage implicit European rivals.

The tariffs are "something we person to woody with... it's a ample economical impact," XPeng vice president and president Brian Gu said astatine the opening of a Hong Kong store.

The Guangzhou-headquartered steadfast said past period that it aimed to treble its beingness to 60 countries and regions this twelvemonth -- portion of a years-long globalisation inclination successful the Chinese EV sector.

The tariffs are "not deterring america from tackling the European opportunity", Gu told AFP, adding "we inactive deliberation it's a precise important market".

"Being section is the mode to mitigate a batch of these tariffs and protectionism," helium said.

Following years of generous enactment from Beijing, China's EV manufacturers person intensified their home contention and are anxious to summation an borderline via exports and innovations.

Chinese EV elephantine BYD saw a boost to its shares connected Tuesday aft unveiling caller artillery technology that it says tin complaint a conveyance successful the aforesaid clip it takes to capable up a petrol car.

Self-driving exertion -- commonly divided into 5 tiers, with L5 being afloat automation with nary request for quality drivers -- is besides a cardinal battleground for Chinese carmakers.

Brian Gu, co-president of Chinese EV shaper XPeng Inc., speaks to AFP astatine the opening of their 2nd flagship store successful Hong Kong. Photo: Peter PARKS / AFP
Source: AFP

The exertion is "moving precise rapidly", fuelled by much almighty chips and artificial quality advancements, Gu said, adding that L4 vehicles could participate wide accumulation adjacent year.

Meanwhile, the United States had maintained its 100 percent tariff connected China-made EVs and successful January finalised a regularisation that efficaciously barred Chinese exertion from its cars.

XPeng entered the Hong Kong marketplace successful April 2024 and has faced stiff contention from Chinese rivals and established names specified arsenic Tesla.

There were conscionable shy of 500 XPeng vehicles registered for the archetypal clip successful Hong Kong past year, down different Chinese brands specified arsenic SAIC's Maxus and Geely's Zeekr, authoritative figures show.

At its Friday store opening, the institution said it volition bring its luxury seven-seater X9 to Hong Kong.

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Source: AFP