XPeng mulling Toyota HiLux rival

Chinese car brand XPeng is considering plans for its first dual-cab ute to challenge the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger in markets such as Australia, South America and the Middle East.

XPeng has relaunched in Australia under full factory backing with two models, and plans for three more over the next six months, across SUV and people mover body styles.

A ute – whether fully-electric, or a range-extender hybrid that uses a petrol engine to charge the battery – is under study to join the line-up at a later date.

“The format probably is something we are looking into,” XPeng vice president Dr Brian Gu told Australian media.

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“Clearly it's not a big format in China, because China doesn't drive that format, but I understand in Australia, in limited countries in Latin America, or in Africa or the Middle East, those are actually pretty popular.

“We are thinking about whether it's a format we want to develop.

“It is going to require a quite different development process, as the chassis and requirements of them [are not similar to SUVs]. But that's something we're looking into right now.”

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An XPeng ute could be similar in size to a Ranger, HiLux or BYD Shark 6 to find optimal traction in Australia, or closer to a Ford F-150 or Tesla Cybertruck to aim for Middle Eastern customers, in lieu of a US entry that is made difficult by hefty tariffs on Chinese cars.

An electric dual-cab from XPeng would also find competition in the Rivian R1T – should it ever be sold in Australia – and the inbound MG U9 EV.

Meanwhile, a range-extender version – with a circa-300km electric-only range that extends beyond 1000km when the petrol engine is used to charge the battery – would compete with an upcoming ‘REEV’ pick-up from compatriot GAC.

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The BYD Shark 6 is Australia’s top-selling plug-in hybrid of any kind, with an engine that can drive the front wheels to aid the front and rear electric motors, but XPeng claims BYD is not its rival.

“We really don't think BYD is our competitor,” XPeng head of international development, Alex Tang, told media.

“Not only in China but globally, because we do have different positioning, not only the brand but also the products and the customers are always different.

“We are really trying to lead the development of the AI car segments that supply the best technology from the globe to the local customers.”