Xpeng launches deliveries of the P7 sedan

The P7, which is being promoted with an NEDC range of 706 kilometres, will roll off the production line at the new plant in Zhaoqing (Guangdong Province) that has the capacity to produce 100,000 vehicles per year. The sedan is based on a platform developed by Xpeng Motors called ‘SEPA’ (Smart Electric Platform Architecture), suggesting that more models will be built on the new platform. Other models have not been announced as of yet.

Xpeng Motors received the official production license from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in mid-May for the plant that was built in around 15 months. The plant will manufacture and paint the car bodies, assemble the vehicles and manufacture the battery packs.

While the technical specifications of the P7 have been known since the end of April, the Chinese company provided further insights into the technology in the current release. The drive of the P7 is said to be “the most powerful permanent magnet synchronous motor in China’s EV market” and the first in the world “to be equipped with the German Infineon 950 IGBT module”. Xpeng Motors speaks of a maximum motor efficiency of 97.5 per cent.

For the battery, the company says it worked with CATL to develop the prismatic NCM cells. According to the announcement, the battery pack is only eleven centimetres high and is to have an energy density of 170 Wh/kg. The battery is to contribute to the high range in two ways: firstly, with its energy content of 81 kWh, and secondly, the flat design is to enable good aerodynamics of the body – Xpeng speaks of a cW value of 0.236.

“The customer delivery of our flagship P7 intelligent EV sports sedan – our second production model – is another testimony of our integrated capability, solidifying our position as a leading player in China’s smart EV market,” said He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of Xpeng Motors.

The sales and service network is also currently being expanded. At the presentation of the series version of the P7 at the end of April, 113 stores were mentioned, but just under two months later Xpeng already announces 190 stores.