Xpeng to launch G9L flagship SUV in China on September 17

• The 5-seat SUV opened for pre-sales in August, with prices starting at 259,800 yuan ($38,380).
• Xpeng aims to exceed 60,000 monthly sales in the fourth quarter with new models including the G9L.

Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) said on Monday that it will launch its 5-seat flagship SUV (sport utility vehicle), the G9L, in China on September 17. The launch event will begin at 7:00 pm.

The G9L made its global debut and opened for pre-sales in China on August 11, with a starting pre-sales price of 259,800 yuan ($38,380).

Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng said during an earnings call in August that the G9L would launch in September, with deliveries beginning the same month.

The SUV comes in battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) versions, with an 800-volt ultrafast charging platform standard across the lineup.

According to specifications released at the pre-sales event, the BEV version offers a CLTC range of up to 755 kilometers. The EREV version has a CLTC electric range of 435 kilometers and a combined range of 1,602 kilometers.

The G9L and the 6-seat GX, launched in May, form Xpeng's flagship SUV lineup and share core platform technology. The G9L will compete with the Li L7 from Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) and the Huawei-backed Aito M7.

Xpeng is also advancing the G9L's overseas roll-out. On September 11, the company said the first batch of right-hand-drive production vehicles had rolled off the line at its Guangzhou factory and would soon be shipped to Australia. It plans to introduce the model in 64 countries and regions.

The launch comes as Xpeng seeks to accelerate its sales recovery. The company delivered 39,107 vehicles in August, up 3.71% year-on-year and 2.84% from July.

However, deliveries in the first 8 months of the year totaled 243,111 vehicles, still down 10.49% year-on-year, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

With new models including the G9L and Mona L05, Xpeng aims to exceed single month sales of 60,000 in the fourth quarter, Mr. He said during the August earnings call. That level is about 53% higher than its August deliveries.

The Mona L05 is scheduled to launch in China in the fourth quarter. Together with the previously launched GX and Mona L03, these models will help Xpeng cover the major SUV segments.