XPeng Motors unveils P7+ in Paris alongside pre-sale pricing, stresses commitment to Europe
Four days after XPeng Motors first unveiled its new P7+ EV, hailed as the “world’s first AI car,” the Chinese Automaker showcased it to the European public during the Paris Motor Show. Following the event, pre-sales of the P7+ began in China, and XPeng shared initial pricing.
As we recapped last week during the initial unveiling in China, XPeng Motors’ ($XPEV) P7+ is a new AI-centric evolution of XPeng Motors flagship sedan, the P7. That model has already made its way to new markets in Europe alongside the G9 SUV and G6 compact.
Today’s latest progress milestone dates back to February 2024, when spy images emerged of a new camouflaged BEV from XPeng that appeared to have ditched LiDAR in favor of pure vision cameras, similar to Tesla’s approach with FSD/Autopilot.
After confirming this past summer that the vehicle name and that it would, in fact, not come equipped with LiDAR, XPeng set a date to officially unveil the P7+ to the public in China. That event, held last week in Shenzen, offered plenty of updates on the XPeng P7+, including battery sizes and range estimates, but we still didn’t know the pricing.
At the time, XPeng said it would unveil the new model to Europe during the Paris Motor Show, and that additional event took place today alongside a start of pre-sales.
XPeng P7+ presale pricing kicks off lower than the Model 3
XPeng Motors used the annual Paris Motor Show as a platform to not only showcase its latest BEV technology but also reinforce its commitment to selling its vehicles in Europe and continue its quest to become a globally recognized automaker.
Similar to its event in China last week, XPeng emphasized its new AI technology and pure vision camera systems, which it calls its “AI Hawkeye Visual Solution,” to deliver a new “three-in-one” BEV that kicks off a new future for the automaker in which additional models will utilize similar AI-centric features.
Hawkeye vision features two 8M cameras in the front and rear of the P7+, as well as millimeter-wave radars and ultrasonic radars, which combine to deliver ADAS driving performance comparable to its previous approach that relied on costly LiDAR systems and HD map coverage.
The result is an intelligent driving system that operates using clearer, more accurate, and longer-range vision and perception, allowing the EV’s in-car computer to function effectively in all lighting conditions on the road. Per XPeng chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng:
XPENG believes the future of the automotive industry is rooted in technology, with AI and autonomous driving set to be the next revolution. Technology must benefit the user. XPENG cars today assist drivers with advanced ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System), and in the near future, they will make autonomous decisions, becoming a driver’s companion or a mobile butler, revolutionizing the mobility experience for our global customers. XPENG will continue investing in R&D to expand our vehicle portfolio and bring innovative smart technology to a world with zero accidents, zero traffic congestion, and zero emissions.
Before digging into the presale pricing of the new P7+, XPeng shared several highlights of its technology as a roadmap to future implementations across its BEV portfolio:
- Advanced ADAS standard on all lineups, with no fees or subscriptions, constantly evolving through over-the-air (OTA) updates.
- XPENG AI Hawkeye Visual Solution, powered by end-to-end AI large models, which enhances the understanding of time and space in surrounding environments while improving precision, range, and color resolution.
- The spacious interior surpasses the average SUV, with space for 33 carry-on suitcases (with the rear seats folded down).
- A standard 800V high-voltage SiC platform from XPeng G9 and G6 delivers ultra-fast charging and energy consumption of 11.6 kWh/100 km – better than competitors in its segment.
While unveiling the new model in Paris, XPeng Motors stressed its commitment to European expansion despite recently imposed tariffs on Chinese-built EV imports. The automaker currently sells three models mentioned above in several markets overseas, including Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal.
The P7+ will soon join its BEV siblings in Europe as XPeng has promised further expansions to new markets. Lastly, XPeng officially opened pre-orders of the P7+ in China and shared initial pricing, which is relatively low given the size and scope of its technology.
The XPeng P7+ pricing starts at RMB 209,800 ($29,610), which is RMB 22,100 ($3,120) less than the starting price of a Tesla Model 3 in China. While it will only cost Chinese customers RMB 99 to secure a pre-order of the P7+, pricing could go down even further when the model officially launches next month, making it an even more affordable and exciting new EV on the horizon.
We will keep you updated as we learn more about the XPeng P7+ and its pricing. Until then, you can view the new model up close in the video from XPeng below. Or if you’re at the Paris Motor Show, you can see it in person at XPeng’s booth in Hall 6.
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Wind energy powered 20% of all electricity consumed in Europe (19% in the EU) in 2024, and the EU has set a goal to grow this share to 34% by 2030 and more than 50% by 2050.
To stay on track, the EU needs to install 30 GW of new wind farms annually, but it only managed 13 GW in 2024 – 11.4 GW onshore and 1.4 GW offshore. This is what’s holding the EU back from achieving its wind growth goals.
Three big problems holding Europe’s wind power back
Europe’s wind power growth is stalling for three key reasons:
Permitting delays. Many governments haven’t implemented the EU’s new permitting rules, making it harder for projects to move forward.
Grid connection bottlenecks. Over 500 GW(!) of potential wind capacity is stuck in grid connection queues.
Slow electrification. Europe’s economy isn’t electrifying fast enough to drive demand for more renewable energy.
Brussels-based trade association WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson summed it up: “The EU must urgently tackle all three problems. More wind means cheaper power, which means increased competitiveness.”
Permitting: Germany sets the standard
Permitting remains a massive roadblock, despite new EU rules aimed at streamlining the process. In fact, the situation worsened in 2024 in many countries. The bright spot? Germany. By embracing the EU’s permitting rules — with measures like binding deadlines and treating wind energy as a public interest priority — Germany approved a record 15 GW of new onshore wind in 2024. That’s seven times more than five years ago.
If other governments follow Germany’s lead, Europe could unlock the full potential of wind energy and bolster energy security.
Grid connections: a growing crisis
Access to the electricity grid is now the biggest obstacle to deploying wind energy. And it’s not just about long queues — Europe’s grid infrastructure isn’t expanding fast enough to keep up with demand. A glaring example is Germany’s 900-megawatt (MW) Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm. The turbines are ready to go, but the grid connection won’t be in place until 2026.
This issue isn’t isolated. Governments need to accelerate grid expansion if they’re serious about meeting renewable energy targets.
Electrification: falling behind
Wind energy’s growth is also tied to how quickly Europe electrifies its economy. Right now, electricity accounts for just 23% of the EU’s total energy consumption. That needs to jump to 61% by 2050 to align with climate goals. However, electrification efforts in key sectors like transportation, heating, and industry are moving too slowly.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has tasked Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen with crafting an Electrification Action Plan. That can’t come soon enough.
More wind farms awarded, but challenges persist
On a positive note, governments across Europe awarded a record 37 GW of new wind capacity (29 GW in the EU) in 2024. But without faster permitting, better grid connections, and increased electrification, these awards won’t translate into the clean energy-producing wind farms Europe desperately needs.
Investments and corporate interest
Investments in wind energy totaled €31 billion in 2024, financing 19 GW of new capacity. While onshore wind investments remained strong at €24 billion, offshore wind funding saw a dip. Final investment decisions for offshore projects remain challenging due to slow permitting and grid delays.
Corporate consumers continue to show strong interest in wind energy. Half of all electricity contracted under Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in 2024 was wind. Dedicated wind PPAs were 4 GW out of a total of 12 GW of renewable PPAs.
Read more: Renewables could meet almost half of global electricity demand by 2030 – IEA
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the official unveiling of the new Tesla Model Y, Mazda 6e, Aptera solar car production-intent, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):
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The Chinese EV leader is launching a new flagship electric sedan. BYD’s new Han L EV leaked in China on Friday, revealing a potential Tesla Model S Plaid challenger.
What we know about the BYD Han L EV so far
We knew it was coming soon after BYD teased the Han L on social media a few days ago. Now, we are learning more about what to expect.
BYD’s new electric sedan appeared in China’s latest Ministry of Industry and Information Tech (MIIT) filing, a catalog of new vehicles that will soon be sold.
The filing revealed four versions, including two EV and two PHEV models. The Han L EV will be available in single- and dual-motor configurations. With a peak power of 580 kW (777 hp), the single-motor model packs more power than expected.
BYD’s dual-motor Han L gains an additional 230 kW (308 hp) front-mounted motor. As CnEVPost pointed out, the vehicle’s back has a “2.7S” badge, which suggests a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint time of just 2.7 seconds.
To put that into perspective, the Tesla Model S Plaid can accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 2.1 seconds. In China, the Model S Plaid starts at RBM 814,900, or over $110,000. Speaking of Tesla, the EV leader just unveiled its highly anticipated Model Y “Juniper” refresh in China on Thursday. It starts at RMB 263,500 ($36,000).
BYD already sells the Han EV in China, starting at around RMB 200,000. However, the single front motor, with a peak power of 180 kW, is much less potent than the “L” model. The Han EV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.
At 5,050 mm long, 1,960 mm wide, and 1,505 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,970 mm, BYD’s new Han L is roughly the size of the Model Y (4,970 mm long, 1,964 mm wide, 1,445 mm tall, wheelbase of 2,960 mm).
Other than that it will use a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack from BYD’s FinDreams unit, no other battery specs were revealed. Check back soon for the full rundown.
Source: CnEVPost, China MIIT
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