Chinese EV maker XPeng has unveiled its first global model, the L03, launching in 60 countries across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, in a bid to establish itself as a serious international competitor. Positioned as a "budget" car priced below its own G6 and rivals such as the Tesla Model Y, the launch marks a significant push by the relatively young company (founded not quite 12 years ago) to build a reputation beyond China, where it does not rank among the top ten EV manufacturers by volume.

Starting at €35,600 (around $40,000), the L03 offers a claimed WLTP range of 320 miles, 10-80% fast charging in 20 minutes, and features such as a panoramic glass roof, massage seats and a 15.6-inch central screen, all as standard. Top versions reach 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds, while the flagship Ultra trim includes enhanced L2++ driver-assistance software (via three of XPeng's Turing AI chips) due to activate in Europe in 2027, though the car's hardware will never support full L4 autonomy. XPeng also relies solely on cameras rather than lidar for its self-driving system, a strategy shared with Tesla but different from rivals including BYD, Zeekr and Nio; in China, the same car is sold more cheaply as the "Mona L03".