Chinese smart electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer XPeng Inc. has introduced the MONA M03, an all-electric hatchback coupe, with prices ranging from RMB 119,800 to 155,800 ($17,000 – $22,000). Deliveries for the new model are set to commence in September.
The launch was highlighted at XPeng’s 10th Anniversary Gala, where the company also unveiled its first in-house developed chip, the XPeng Turing. Named after computing pioneer Alan Turing, the XPeng Turing is the world’s first 40-core chip designed specifically for AI applications in vehicles, robots, and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVOTL) aircraft.
XPeng also introduced the AI Hawkeye Visual Solution, based on the innovative Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor (LOFIC) architecture. Scheduled to debut on the XPeng P7+ in Q4 2024, the AI Hawkeye will enhance the company’s smart driving capabilities with improved visual perception.
“The last ten years encompass not only XPENG’s first decade but also the first decade of China’s smart driving journey. As a company that develops its full-stack smart driving technology in-house, our goal has always been to build a user-friendly, easy-to-drive smart car for technology lovers in China,” said He Xiaopeng, CEO and Chairman of XPENG, adding “Meanwhile, intelligence has become the biggest and most exciting trend for the future. For our next decade, XPENG is setting new goals: to become a global technology company centered on AI-powered vehicles.”
Xiaopeng outlined the company’s vision for the next decade, including predictions that only seven mainstream Chinese automotive brands will remain, XPeng will achieve annual sales of 1 million AI-powered vehicles, and half of its sales will come from international markets.
The XPeng Turing chip, designed for L4 autonomous driving, promises to deliver performance three times greater than current models and accelerate the development of XPeng’s AI models. The AI Hawkeye Visual Solution, featuring advanced vision technology, will enhance driving safety and functionality in various lighting conditions.
The MONA M03’s design integrates advanced smart driving features and boasts a sporty exterior with a drag coefficient of Cd0.194, achieving top-tier aerodynamics among mass-produced electric hatchbacks. The vehicle includes standard electric hatchback tailgate and offers a spacious trunk, with full-scenario smart parking and over 20 smart hardware components available across the product lineup.
The MONA M03 Max, featuring full-scenario XNGP ADAS, will be the industry’s only urban smart driving solution priced under RMB 200,000 ($28,200), with deliveries starting after the Chinese New Year in 2025.