XPeng Motors announces new AI-centric brand targeting EVs priced as low $14,000
Leading Chinese EV automaker XPeng Motors has publicly shared plans for a new EV brand to deliver affordable, AI-driven smart cars to young consumers. Targeting China’s A-class segment of EVs priced between RMB 100,000-150,000, XPeng’s new brand could help pave the way for more affordable EVs around the globe.
XPeng Motors ($XPEV), although still relatively young in the automotive industry, sits as a veteran in Chinese EV development and the adjacent technologies that support electric mobility.
In addition to designing, developing, and manufacturing its own EV hardware and top-tier ADAS software, the XPeng umbrella also develops charging technology, robots, and even has its own advanced air mobility (AAM) arm called AeroHT – which is developing eVTOLs and actual flying cars.
Such investments are starting to pay off as well. XPeng Motors recently posted its Q4 2023 sales numbers which included record revenues, significantly lower net losses, and an upward tick of gross margins into positive territory.
With expansions to new markets like Europe, Egypt, and the Middle East continuing in 2024, XPeng Motors has announced a new EV brand that will initially launch in China, and its targeted pricing is hard not to get excited about.
New XPeng brand to provide “AI-driven user experience”
XPeng Motors shared details of the new EV brand earlier today, which arrives as a culmination of previously laid plans for new vehicle technologies. During its annual 1023 Tech Day 2023, XPeng expressed a commitment to deploy more AI in its mass-produced EVs, including cognitive assistant functions.
During the recent China Electric Vehicle 100 Summit, XPeng Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng shared big plans for the automaker’s “AI-enabled smart driving” technology, vowing to invest RMB 3.5 billion (~$492M) in 2024 alone toward the R&D of artificial intelligence and the firing of 4,000 new employees.
Today we’ve learned XPeng’s AI and ADAS technology won’t just be featured on its namesake EVs but in a new, more affordable brand as well. The unnamed sub-brand will launch in China soon, although XPeng says it will “create a new breed of AI-powered Smart EVs for young customers worldwide.”
XPeng’s Chairman and CEO recently said the next decade of EVs will be one of intelligence and smart driving technology. As such, the new brand will deliver AI-centric tech at an affordable price for all, targeting RMB 100,000-150,000 ($14,000-$21,000). Per XPeng’s release:
Vehicles priced between 100,000 to 150,000 yuan have long been the mainstream choice for Chinese consumers. With over 8 million cars sold every year, this price segment possesses abundant market demand, strong development potential, and increasing market share. According to data from the China Passenger Car Association, in 2023, the market share of vehicles priced between 100,000 to 150,000 yuan accounted for approximately 34% of the market, compared to about 31% in 2022. At the same time, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in this price range is also continuously increasing. However, there are few products in this market segment that offer smart driving functions, let alone AI-driven smart driving.
With its new brand, XPeng intends to tap into a popular EV segment in China and try to dominate by providing technology and smart driving functions that consumers normally don’t gain access to at that price point.
This appears to begin with a lone EV model (teased above), but XPeng says its new brand will continue to introduce multiple models with varying levels of intelligent driving capabilities. We could very well see this new marque eventually expand beyond China, as XPeng is already describing it as an ” entry into a new stage of multi-brand global strategic operation.”
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Elon Musk implies that he’ll quit his part-time job as CEO of Tesla (TSLA) if he doesn’t get his $1 trillion pay package. On today’s episode of Quick Charge, I suggest GM’s Mary Barra should replace him, and explore some of the compelling EV deals out there looking to take a bite out of Elon’s market share.
In addition to my take on what the TSLA board should or shouldn’t decide, we’ve got a pile of EV lease deals, some hot, upcoming new electric Jeep models, and a look at some of the ways the end of the Federal EV tax credit isn’t the end at all.
Quick Charge is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
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The US added more than 4,000 new DC fast-charging ports in Q3 2025, pushing the total past 64,000. The country’s EV infrastructure keeps maturing, despite new station openings slowing slightly this summer.
US DC fast-charging ports expand past 64,000
According to EV charging data platform Paren’s latest “State of the US Fast EV Charging Industry Report,” the number of public DC fast-charging ports climbed to 64,486 across 12,375 charging stations nationwide in Q3 2025. That’s despite a modest slowdown in new openings: Operators added 699 new stations, down 12% from Q2, and 4,061 new ports, down 7.7%.
Paren says the dip mirrors seasonal trends seen in 2024 and expects growth to rebound in Q4, with early October data already coming in strong. The company still projects the US to add around 16,700 new ports by the end of 2025. Notably, larger charging stations are becoming the norm: 27% of all stations now have eight or more stalls, up from 23% last quarter.
Tesla dominates new ports, and the market widens
Tesla led Q3 deployments with 1,820 new ports – nearly 45% of all added nationwide. ChargePoint (300), Red E (215), Electrify America (164), and EV Connect (146) rounded out the top five. But Paren notes that smaller and regional operators collectively accounted for 21% of new ports, demonstrating how the market is diversifying.
Every state added at least one new fast-charging station this quarter. California again led the pack with 108 new sites, followed by Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois. Upstart network Ionna, formed earlier this year by seven automakers, opened 12 new stations with 132 ports. At the same time, Michigan-based Red E jumped to third place after expanding across 18 states, including new sites at Aldi supermarkets.
Summer travel lifted fast charging demand
The summer travel season drove EV charging activity higher across almost the entire US. Fast charger use increased in 45 states, stayed flat in one, and dipped in five. Maine saw the biggest bump (+1.9 in utilization growth), followed by Montana (+1.8), New York (+1.8), and Oregon (+1.8), all reflecting busier tourism routes and expanding highway and corridor buildouts.
Paren also found signs that Tesla’s opening its Supercharger network to non-Tesla EV drivers is shifting behavior. Some non-Tesla charging stations saw slight utilization declines, suggesting a growing number of drivers are switching to Tesla’s network for convenience.
It’s all about reliability and upkeep
Paren’s “reliability index” measures charger reliability, taking into account recent successful charge sessions with and without retries, failed charge attempts, and station downtime over a specific time period.
Reliability based on Paren’s definition inched up again, from 92.1% to 92.3%. Thirty-two states improved their reliability scores this quarter, while 15 declined and four held steady. Oklahoma showed the biggest improvement (+4.4), though it still ranks last overall at 73.3%. Mississippi (91.1, +2.6) and Idaho (92.1, +2) also made solid gains, while Rhode Island (88.2, -2.7) and Alaska (96.3, -1.9) saw declines.
Paren says reliability now depends less on geography and more on operator performance, site age, and proactive maintenance. With more federally and state-funded chargers coming online, the focus is shifting from buildout to upkeep. Operators investing in preventive maintenance, faster outage response, and top-quality software integration will be best positioned to keep drivers happy.
Average fast-charging prices rose by a penny
Nationwide average pricing rose by a penny in Q3 to $0.49 per kilowatt-hour, with most states falling between $0.48 and $0.54. Hawaii remains the priciest at $0.85/kWh, while Nebraska is the cheapest at $0.42/kWh. Several charge point operators offered summer discounts and promotional rates, but Paren found no clear link between lower prices and higher use.
A few states saw notable price swings: Alaska jumped $0.04, while Arkansas dropped $0.05 and Hawaii fell $0.07. The jury’s still out on whether rates continue rising post-summer; that will depend on wholesale electricity costs, demand trends, and competition among networks.
Electrek’s Take
Paren’s Q3 snapshot shows a maturing charging market: slightly slower but steady growth, improving reliability, and broader competition. Tesla’s Superchargers are still leading the pack when it comes to the volume of new ports being rolled out. Still, the fast charging landscape is expanding with more regional players and multi-port hubs with both NACS and CCS capability across the map. A big priority now is to keep those chargers working and affordable as more people switch to EVs.
Read more: The US added 4,200 new DC fast charging ports, and that’s just Q2
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Is it electric? A hybrid? A new Toyota crossover SUV was spotted testing out in public rocking a unique look.
New Toyota EV crossover and SUVs are coming soon
Toyota is gearing up to launch a series of new battery electric (BEV), hybrid, and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles over the next few years in nearly every market.
In the US, Toyota currently offers just one fully electric vehicle (excluding the Lexus RZ), the bZ (formerly the bZ4X), but that will soon change.
Toyota plans to offer seven fully electric vehicles by mid-2027, including under its luxury Lexus brand. Joining the updated bZ and Lexus RZ next year will be the smaller C-HR crossover and more rugged bZ Woodland SUVs.
Shortly after, it will introduce two electric SUVs that Toyota will build at its plant in Kentucky. Although Toyota has yet to announce it publicly, the new electric SUVs are expected to be based on the RAV4 and Land Cruisers. They will replace the Lexus ES in Kentucky, while the next-gen EV version will be exported to the US from Japan.
In Europe, Toyota will launch the updated bZ4X, CH-R+, and Urban Cruisers by the end of the year. Three additional crossovers and SUVs are set to follow in 2026.
While we already know what most of those will looks like, the new crossover SUV doesn’t appear to be any of them. The spy photos from SH Proshots (via Autoevolution) show what looks to be the next-gen Toyota Venza, or the Harrier for those outside of the US.
You can tell it’s a bit taller and less aerodynamic than the electric crossover SUVs that Toyota showcased earlier this year.
The Venza was a bit of a step up from your average Toyota SUV with a more premium feel, but it was discontinued after the 2024 model year to make way for the Crown Signia.
Although Toyota has yet to reveal anything about the next-gen Venza, rumors suggest it will be built on the TNGA-K platform, which underpins the new RAV4. The platform is designed to open up interior space with a lower center of gravity.
Inside, you can expect to see Toyota’s latest Audio Multimedia system, which also debuted in the new RAV4. The setup includes a standard 10.5″ smartphone-like touchscreen infotainment or you can upgrade to the larger 12.9″ screen.
Given Toyota has yet to publicly announced the next-gen Venza, powertrain options is still up in the air. The report speculates it will arrive as a self-charging hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV), or both.
Since it’s still in its early stages, the new model isn’t expected to launch until 2027. It could arrive as a 2028 model year in the US.
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