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[Updated] Xpeng P5 EV lineup and pricing revealed, set to be first production vehicle WITH Lidar-based Navigation Guided Pilot

China’s ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has received filings from Xpeng for the entire model range, revealing three versions of the P5 with 460km, 550km and 600km NEDC range, and battery packs of 55.9kWh, 66.2kWh and 71.4kWh, respectively.

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[Updated 22/7/21] Cnevpost reports that China’s ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has received filings from Xpeng for the entire model range, revealing three versions of the P5 with 460km, 550km and 600km NEDC range, and battery packs of 55.9kWh, 66.2kWh and 71.4kWh, respectively.

The P5 line-up costs from RMB 160,000 ($24,700 USD) to 230,000 ($35,560), with the Chinese EV subsidy included.

Colours available for Xpeng’s P5. Image: Xpeng

Colours available for Xpeng’s P5. Image: Xpeng

Original article:

Xpeng Motors pulled the covers off the P5 mid-size sedan this week just prior to Auto Shanghai, and the Chinese automaker claims its new Lidar-based XPILOT 3.5 architecture is “the strongest autonomous driving system in production cars”. The P5 sits below its P7 in the model range, and features a raft of sensors as the company ramps up plans to compete with Tesla in the race to autonomous vehicle control.

It is well known that Tesla’s CEO Elon musk has derided the use of Lidar in passenger vehicles, stating that it is a “fool’s errand”. Tesla’s is likely to begin rollout out 4D vision technology utilising only 8 cameras within the next few months. Xpeng is a Chinese startup that has gone from strength to strength, and seems to be powering ahead with capital raises and strong Chinese sales numbers.

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The company has debuted its most advanced autonomous driving technology on the new P5 sedan, with its Navigation Guided Pilot (NGP) claiming to handle highway and city driving. The company’s CEO He Xiaopeng has stated that he believes a full suite of sensors is required to safely navigate urban conditions, and the P5 sedan features 32 perception sensors (including 2 LiDAR units, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 5 millimeter-wave radars, and 13 high-resolution cameras) and 1 high-precision positioning unit (GNSS + IMU). There is redundancy built into the perception sensors to handle “challenging and complex road conditions”.

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The P5’s double-prism LiDAR units are capable to distinguish pedestrians, cyclists and scooters, static obstacles, and road works and according to Xpeng, challenging scenarios such as night and low-light conditions, backlighting, and alternating light and dark illumination in tunnels are also not a problem for the system.

“Each new Xpeng model aims for a new high in technology, and the P5 is our most advanced and technically ambitious model yet” according to He. “Our home-grown technology, distinctive design language and user experience philosophy: all reflect Xpeng’s drive to grow from its Chinese roots to realise its global vision of leading the world’s smart EV market.”

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Exterior Design

With a length of 4808mm and wheel base of 2768mm, the P5 is 114mm longer that the Tesla Model 3 (4,694mm), but 107mm shorter in the wheelbase (2,875mm for the Tesla). The P5 has a more ‘upright’ look than the Model 3 or it’s P7 sibling, but we like the bold ‘X’ graphics in the front headlight cluster, and the expansive glass area.

Interior Design

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Xpeng promises lots of passenger space inside and claims that the interior can be reconfigured into a private cinema or sleeping compartment (though it’s likely BYO projector and mattress). The P5 features a 15.6in touchscreen in the centre console, with access to many popular apps on the Chinese market, and voice control for almost every function via the Xmart OS 3.0 system. The design is minimalist and fuss-free, and appears to be of a high quality.

Full technical details and range will be revealed in the coming months, but Xpeng insiders have hinted that the vehicle could provide up to 600km (373 miles) of range on the Chinese NEDC cycle.

The Xpeng P5 interior

The Xpeng P5 interior

A variety of popular apps will be available in the P5’s infotainment system.

A variety of popular apps will be available in the P5’s infotainment system.

The P5’ flexible interior allows for a cinema-style seating setup.

The P5’ flexible interior allows for a cinema-style seating setup.

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Xpeng P5 EV set for April 14 reveal; company posts all time quarterly sales record for 2021 [UPDATED]

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng (also known as XMotors.ai and Xiaopeng Motors) will reveal their P5 mid-size electric sedan online on April 14 at 2pm ET/8pm CET/4am 15/4 AEST prior to the media and public reveal at the Shanghai Auto Fair.

Xpeng’s upcoming P5 sedan

[Updated]: Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng (also known as XMotors.ai and Xiaopeng Motors) will reveal their P5 mid-size electric sedan online on April 14 at 2pm ET/8pm CET/4am 15/4 AEST prior to the media and public reveal at the Shanghai Auto Fair. This follows the recent sighting of camouflaged prototypes undergoing final development testing on the streets of China, and the following teaser image from XPeng:

XPeng’s Chairman He Xiaopeng has hinted in previous discussions with Chinese media that the P5 will be the first production vehicle with Lidar technology — now confirmed in the above tweet — and that the P5 will be equivalent in size roughly to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord (and obviously, Tesla’s Model 3)

The P5 carries the company’s contemporary styling cues, and appears to offer two driver displays in the interior. The vehicle architecture is shared with the company’s G3 crossover, and customer deliveries are expected to commence towards the end of 2021.

XPeng’s P5 undisguised. Credit: reddit.com/wyboongk

XPeng’s P5 undisguised. Credit: reddit.com/wyboongk

XPeng posts best ever monthly and quarterly sales results

Admittedly, XPeng’s 2020 sales didn’t hit expectations due to a number of factors—only 6 months of P7 sedan sales as well as the COVID-19 pandemic—but the company has posted strong numbers for this year, with 13,340 sales from January to March 2021, versus 1,419 for the previous period in 2020. The company sold 7,974 P7 sedans, and 5,366 G3 SUVs, and also surpassed a cumulative total of 50,000 vehicles.

According to XPeng, "The Company attributed the record quarterly deliveries to its growing brand recognition and product appeal, expanded product portfolio and its relentless efforts in broadening sales, marketing and supercharging service networks across China."

Xpeng is working hard to continue growing its sales as well as its brand in China, and faces stiff competition from BYD, NIO, upcoming Zhiji Auto and of course, Tesla. XPeng is growing its DC fast charging network across China, with over 935 sites across 139 cities available by the end of 2021. The company has also reached an agreement with NIO for customers of either brand to be able to share fast charging stations. In addition, Xpeng has brought in a lower-priced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery option from CATL, designed for city-based customers for whom a longer battery range is of limited value. Customers who opt for the LFP battery option can expect to save around RMB 20,000 ($3,000 US) per vehicle.





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On the road with Highway Navigation Guided Pilot, the semi-autonomous driving tech from XPeng

XPeng Inc. released their Highway Navigation Guided Pilot (NGP) software to customers via an over-the-air (OTA) update on January 26, and has already logged over one million kilometers within its first 25 days.

XPeng Inc. releases autonomous technology

XPeng Inc. released their Highway Navigation Guided Pilot (NGP) software to customers via an over-the-air (OTA) update on January 26, and has already logged over one million kilometres within its first 25 days.

Youtuber Wheelsboy visited XPeng’s headquarters, and demonstrated the company’s NGP technology on an electric P7 sedan:

XPeng’s NGP features

Owners are required to watch an instructional video and complete a quiz before the software features are unlocked. Once operational, XPeng’s NGP can perform the following functions:

  • Automatic lane changing and overtaking with lane optimisation

  • Automatic speed limit adjustment

  • Automatic changing of highways

  • Automatic highway ramp entering and exiting

  • Collision avoidance, in -lane and while changing lanes

  • Identification and avoidance of obstacles on the road

Customers are required to watch a safety video regarding the operation of NGP before using the features. Image: XPeng

Customers are required to watch a safety video regarding the operation of NGP before using the features. Image: XPeng

XPeng is working hard to gather data from customers on the road to improve their technology. NGP utilises cameras, sensors, radar and lidar for its suite of autonomous functions, whereas Tesla has avoided lidar technology, with Elon Musk going so far as to say “lidar is a fool’s errand” and “Anyone relying on lidar is doomed. Doomed!”

We know that Tesla’s autonomous systems are a technological tour-de-force, with dual chips for redundancy, and a processor capable of over 144 trillion operations per second (TOPS). For comparison, XPeng’s in-car computer is currently rated at 30 TOPS, but the company promises increases to the computing power over time. We’re yet to see how well XPeng’s NGP software works outside of China, but Wheelsboy’s video demonstrates promising signs of competent driver assistance technology.

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Xpeng Teases new Electric Sedan

Chinese automaker Xpeng or Xiaopeng Motors is set to unveil the third model in its lineup after the G3 and P7. The company has announced that the vehicle will utilise LiDAR technology, with CEO He Xiaopeng stating in November that Xpeng will be the first production vehicle to market with the technology.

Image: Xpeng Motors via Twitter

Chinese automaker Xpeng or Xiaopeng Motors, also known as XMotors.ai is set to unveil the third model in its lineup after the G3 and P7. The company has announced that the vehicle will utilise LiDAR technology, with CEO He Xiaopeng stating in November that Xpeng will be the first production vehicle to market with the technology. It’s likely that this will be utilised for various driver assistance systems, rather than for a Tesla-like autonomous Autopilot system. Further detail on specifications will have to wait for the unveil, expected sometime in Q1 2021.

This new model from Xpeng appears smaller than the company’s P7 sedan, and features an interesting front LED light signature, mimicking the Xpeng logo. In China, the P7 sedan starts at a price of 229,900 yuan (US$32,470) after green vehicle subsidies. The company is pushing for rapid growth in the increasingly competitive BEV market, with global expansion on the cards for 2021. In December, Xpeng commenced delivery of the first 100 G3 SUV models to Norwegian customers, at a price of 358,000 NKr (US$41,000).

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