XPeng's high-tech G7 electric SUV sells 1,000 units a minute

XPeng has officially launched its G7 SUV, a vehicle that brings a potent combination of advanced in-house technology, generous space, and a price tag that significantly undercuts its primary rival, the Tesla Model Y.

In a clear challenge to the established players, XPeng has priced the G7 to attract attention. The starting price for the new electric SUV is RMB 195,800, which translates to approximately $27,320. This positions the G7 at nearly 26 percent lower than the starting price of the Tesla Model Y in China - if nothing else, this will surely resonate with consumers. The G7 is available in three distinct variants: the 602 Max, the 702 Max, and the top-tier 702 Ultra.

The new SUV boasts larger dimensions than the Tesla Model Y. It measures 192.6 inches in length, 75.8 inches in width, and 65.2 inches in height, with a wheelbase of 113.8 inches. The spacious interior is a key consideration for many families and a big selling point in the crowded Chinese SUV market.

At the heart of the G7 Ultra lies XPeng's proprietary Turing AI smart driving chip. This in-house developed processor endows the vehicle with 2,250 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second) of computing power, a figure that XPeng claims makes the G7 the most powerful smart driving EV to date. This immense processing capability is the foundation for what the company is calling the first AI car with L3-level computing power, supporting advanced Vision-Language-Action (VLA) and Vision-Language Models (VLM).

This technology is designed to enable the G7 to "think" and react more like a human driver, making it capable of optimal decision-making in real-time across a wide range of driving scenarios. The VLM improves the in-car experience, with an AI-powered cockpit that can proactively anticipate and serve the needs of passengers. The G7 Ultra is equipped with three of these powerful Turing chips. The two other Max versions, while still technologically advanced, use two Nvidia Orin X chips, which provide a combined 508 TOPS of computing power.

All versions of the G7 are built on an 800-volt high-voltage platform, which allows for remarkably fast 5C charging. The vehicle can replenish its battery from 0 to 80 percent in just 12 minutes. The base model offers a CLTC range of 374 miles, while the two higher-end variants provide an impressive 436 miles on a single charge.

Interestingly, all versions of the G7 are rear-wheel-drive and use a single motor that delivers 218 kW of peak power and 332 lb-ft of peak torque. The SUV accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in a respectable 6.5 seconds. The G7 also includes an AR-HUD (Augmented Reality Head-Up Display) system that was co-developed with telecommunications giant Huawei.

The launch of the G7 is another big milestone for XPeng, which has already seen its sales figures this year so far beat its entire sales from the previous year. The company's goal to double its delivery volume from 2024 now seems well within reach.

The initial market response to the G7 has been overwhelmingly positive, with the company reporting over 10,000 firm orders within the first nine minutes of its launch. With deliveries expected to start shortly, the G7 has the potential to sell a lot of units, not just in China, but in other markets as well.

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