- The Mona L05 will launch in China on October 29, with global shipments beginning ahead of its domestic roll-out.
- Xpeng developed left- and right-hand-drive versions in parallel and says it deployed 660 vehicles for extreme-condition testing across 25 countries and regions.
Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) has begun global shipments of the Mona L05, with plans to sell the SUV in 65 countries and regions as it prepares for its China launch.
The Chinese electric vehicle maker announced the move on Weibo on Monday, and reiterated that it will hold a “Mona World” owners’ gathering and the L05’s China launch event on October 29.
The move puts global shipments ahead of the Mona L05’s official launch in China. Xpeng did not disclose the size of the initial shipment, specific destinations or delivery schedules for individual overseas markets.
Xpeng is expanding its lineup for younger consumers through the Mona series. The L05, the series’ third model, is a 5-seat mid-size SUV positioned above the Mona L03, which launched in July.
According to promotional images released by Xpeng, the Mona L05’s left- and right-hand-drive versions were developed in parallel, with 660 vehicles deployed for extreme-condition testing across 25 countries and regions.
The tests included high-speed cabin noise assessments in Germany, powertrain performance evaluations at high altitudes in Mexico, and vehicle reliability testing at 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in the United Arab Emirates and minus 25 degrees Celsius in Norway.
Xpeng also teased the European debut of its Turing AI driver-assistance technology in the images, highlighting its second-generation VLA (Vision-Language-Action) model and up to 1,500 TOPS of effective computing power, without specifying a roll-out date.
On safety, Xpeng said the Mona L05 was developed to meet 5-star safety standards in China, Europe and Australia, with 7 airbags, a 2,000 MPa-class body structure and multiple layers of battery protection.
The images listed C-NCAP 2024, Euro NCAP 2027 and ANCAP 2027. These references describe development standards; the marketing materials did not disclose actual crash-test ratings.
The Mona L05 opened for pre-sales in China on October 15, starting at 169,800 yuan ($25,280). It offers 5 variants across battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrains, with pre-sales prices topping out at 191,800 yuan.
Based on specifications released at the start of Chinese pre-sales, the BEV versions offer a maximum CLTC range of 635 kilometers (395 miles), while the EREV versions have a CLTC battery range of 310 kilometers and a combined range of 1,310 kilometers with a full tank and battery.
The global shipment announcement did not specify which powertrains will be offered in each overseas market.
The global roll-out comes as Xpeng’s monthly deliveries recover, though its year-to-date total remains below a year earlier. The company is expanding its lineup to drive growth.
Xpeng delivered 41,256 vehicles in September, its highest monthly total this year, up 5.50% from August but down 0.78% year-on-year, according to data compiled by CnEVPost. Deliveries in the first 9 months totaled 284,367 vehicles, down 9.20% year-on-year.
Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng said on an earnings call in August that the company would aim to exceed 60,000 monthly sales in the fourth quarter with the introduction of new models including the G9L and Mona L05.
Mona L05 starts at 169,800 yuan ($25,250) in pre-sales, with its official launch in China set for October 29.
($1 = 6.7162 yuan)
