A new electric car spotted in a fast food car park has given motorists another manufacturer to consider before switching to an electric vehicle.
More Australians are opting for electric vehicles – 95,289 were sold in the year to 30 June 2024.
Electric vehicle maker Tesla has skyrocketed in popularity and topped the list of best-selling cars among motorists, followed by Chinese company BYD.
However, another manufacturer is taking on Tesla and BYD after arriving on Australian shores and sparking interest from potential EV buyers.
Last week, Chinese-owned electric vehicle maker Xpeng announced that first deliveries of its G6 luxury electric SUV would begin in Australia in late June.
The first test vehicles, all with Victorian number plates, have already been spotted in Goulburn, New South Wales, with one of them in a KFC car park.
Local man Justin Wakefield shared a photo of the luxury SUV on the Electric Vehicles for Australia Facebook page.
Mr Wakefield was picking up his son from work when he came across the electric vehicle.
The Xpeng G6 electric SUV was spotted in a KFC car park in Goulburn, New South Wales (pictured)
It is one of the first test vehicles from the China-based manufacturer to hit Australian roads.
“I saw an Xpeng G6 in Goulburn last night. Stunning! So far, it’s the first right-hand drive vehicle registered in Australia. Stay tuned,” Wakefield wrote.
Curious EV fans asked Mr Wakefield what the car looked like in person, to which he replied: “Very eye-catching! It is a very attractive looking unit.
Others claimed that the arrival of the Xpeng G6 could pose stiff competition for established brands Tesla and BYD.
“Well now it’s a dilemma BYD Sealion 7 or Xpeng G6… reviewers are raving about Xpeng’s tech and suspension,” one person wrote.
“I think I prefer the aesthetics of the Sealion 7, but let’s see what others think about both. It’s nice to have so many options,” another person commented.
A third chimed in: “Things are getting exciting with all these new options coming in.”
Mr Wakefield said he owned a Mitsubishi Exceed Tourer PHEV hybrid and explained that his next car purchase would be a BYD Stampede for his wife.
However, after seeing the Xpeng and speaking to the representative, he decided to put the BYD EV on hold.
“I hadn’t heard of Xpeng before. I spoke to (the representative) who was driving from Victoria to Sydney and he was happy to chat for a while about it, but he didn’t mention price,” Wakefield said.
‘I saw online that you can order one, but the price won’t be released until September. Given the specs and how attractive it looks, I would definitely consider buying one.
‘The next car we were going to buy for my wife was going to be a BYD Seal, but this has given us pause.’
The Xpeng G6 doesn’t have an official price at the moment, but it’s expected to sell for under $60,000. The EV is available for pre-order online, but won’t make its Australian debut until September.
Mr Wakefield added that testing of the Xpeng AWD Performance (LHD) model has also created a “wait and see” approach when purchasing your first EV.
The Xpeng G6 is marketed as a luxury electric SUV and has been labeled as a “high-end” alternative to the Tesla Model Y.
While TrueEV is currently accepting online pre-orders for XPENG G6 models, the SUV won’t make its Australian market debut until September.
The Xpeng G6 comes in two variants: a standard-range battery and a long-range battery, with an 800V Xpower electric powertrain and rear-wheel drive.
The standard model has a power output of 190 kW and delivers up to 440 Nm of torque, and has a range of 435 km.
The Long Range model has a larger battery, with a maximum output of 210 kW and a driving range of up to 570 km.
With no official pricing yet, the Xpeng G6 is expected to retail for under $60,000 to put it on par with Australia’s market leader and best-selling EV, the Tesla Model Y.
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