A MAJOR Chinese electric car brand has opened its first dealerships in the UK – with the brand being hailed as a rival to Elon Musk’s Tesla.
The new showrooms coincide with deliveries of the Chinese brand’s new electric car – and come as Tesla is seeing a slump in sales.
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The two new dealerships have opened their doors in Southampton and Nottingham, with another 20 or more showrooms set to join XPeng’s network in the next year.
The Chinese EV brand has opened the shops in time for deliveries of its new electric G6 SUV.
The groundbreaking and affordable EV is even able to slow down when passing signs which suggest speed limits have changed.
XPeng said both the new sites will allow customers to get “guidance from brand specialists”, and let the manufacturer project its core values of “innovation, accessibility and a seamless ownership experience”.
Peter Cooper has opened the site in Southampton, while Sandicliffe has opened one in Nottingham.
Darren Cooper of Peter Cooper Group said: “This isn’t just about launching a new dealership – it’s about introducing a new way of thinking about electric mobility.
“We’re offering UK customers a first-class introduction to XPeng and a glimpse into the future of electric driving.
“There has been a real buzz of excitement about the XPeng brand, and we have received a lot of interest before we’ve even opened the doors.”
He added that his firm was “thrilled to be representing such an exciting new brand” and that they looked forward to a “successful representation” of XPeng products.
Paul Woodhouse, CEO of Sandicliffe said: “We’re proud to be among the first XPENG retailers in the UK to open our doors to the public.
“The G6 has already generated a huge amount of interest, and we’re confident that once people get behind the wheel, they’ll be just as impressed as we were.
He praised the new G6 SUV, saying: “With its premium quality, advanced tech and everyday practicality, this all-electric SUV is set to shake up the segment and challenge the more established players.”
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The new XPeng showrooms come as Tesla sales drop amid anti-Elon Musk protests as a result of his work alongside President Trump.
Tesla bosses were left embarrassed after sales plummeted by 13% during the first quarter of 2025 – with the drop marking the biggest fall in over a decade.
Sales in France, Sweden, Denmark and Netherlands fell for the third straight months as for April 1, with showrooms in Stockholm and Berlin being vandalised.
An influx of electric car brands in the UK is also threatening to undercut EV prices, with Chinese firms including XPeng contributing to the wave.
XPeng has also unveiled its flying car AEROHT, which includes its very own drone-like helicopter stowed in the back.
Chinese company BYD is set to unveil a low-cost pint-sized hatchback called the Dolphin Surf, rivalling the likes of Fiat and Dacia.
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