As the Xpeng MONA M03 made its global premiere via live stream on the afternoon of July 3rd, Xpeng Chairman He Xiaopeng offered unvarnished insights into the industry’s current landscape. As he looked back on a decade of experience in the field, he lamented the fact that the industry’s focus was skewed towards serving the interests of big business and advertisers rather than investing in groundbreaking technology.
He Xiaopeng is renowned for revolutionizing the automotive industry a decade ago, at a time when advancements in gasoline technology were stagnating. The stagnant business environment enabled companies to thrive without the need for vital innovation? Over the past decade, Xpeng has undertaken numerous technological advancements. Despite concerted efforts to drive innovation, He observed that Chinese gamers in the automotive sector continue to place greater emphasis on product marketing and advertising strategies than actual technological advancements.
While hasty assimilation of knowledge may yield immediate gains, it often forgoes the thrill and value of genuine breakthroughs. “It feels more like an enterprise than a passion,” he stressed, underscoring the importance of striking a balance between learning from others and committing to groundbreaking technological advancements.
Looking ahead, he expressed his hope that Xpeng will genuinely move forward in the next decade, prioritizing robust technological advancements to bring even more innovations to the market and China.
During his discussion of the new Mona M03, he spoke at length. The Xpeng brand introduces its latest automotive innovation, a cutting-edge addition to their esteemed lineup. This sleek electric vehicle boasts dimensions of 4,780mm (length), 1,896mm (width), and 1,445mm (height), featuring a wheelbase of 2,815mm. The trunk offers a generous 621 litres of cargo space, characteristic of a mid-size SUV.
The primary objective of the Mona M03’s design was to significantly reduce its aerodynamic drag profile. The automobile underwent a comprehensive series of 10 thorough wind tunnel tests, spanning more than 100 hours, to refine and optimize 15 crucial performance parameters. These initiatives resulted in a reduced drag coefficient of 0.085, purportedly yielding a 60 km/h improvement.
Despite limited updates on the powertrain, it has been officially confirmed that the Mona M03 will feature a choice between 140-160 kW electric motors, boasting a top speed of 155 km/h. The BYD Blade lithium iron phosphate batteries are employed by the automobile, available in different variants offering ranges of either 515 kilometres or 620 kilometres.
Xpeng announced plans to price the Mona M03 at under 200,000 yuan (approximately $27,400), with the car’s final price tag set to be disclosed during its official launch in August.
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