At 10 a.m. this morning, XPeng Motors officially launched the 2020 G3 model with a NEDC range of 520 km, directly surpassing the previous shortest-range model and becoming the current compact SUV with the longest comprehensive range.
Rapid iteration, move ahead quickly
Although the release of this new model was not accompanied by a grand launch event, the update on this product was massive, starting from its battery and range capability.
There are two versions of the 2020 G3: the G3 400 and G3 520, corresponding to NEDC ranges of 401 km and 520 km, with battery capacities of 50.5 kWh and 66.5 kWh, respectively.
The previous model used cylindrical 18650 batteries from BYD and CATL. However, the G3 520 version of the 2020 model features a change to Ningde Times’ prismatic 811 ternary lithium battery, with an energy density of 180 Wh/kg. This change also reduced the weight of the G3 by 50 kg, compared to the previous model.
Last week, we performed an extensive range test on the 2019 XPeng G3, concluding that its actual range was very close to the NEDC range, but the smaller battery capacity resulted in its range being limited. With the 520 km NEDC range of the new G3 model, a 42% improvement compared to the previous model’s 351 km/365 km, the battery capacity has been increased without much increase in the curb weight of the vehicle.
In addition to its battery capacity, the latest G3 model has also undergone hardware configuration optimization and calibration, based on user feedback, which has to some extent improved its handling stability and ride comfort. The brake system has also been upgraded to include dual-cylinder front brakes, larger rear brakes, and a larger-diameter vacuum booster, resulting in a stopping distance of less than 37 meters for every 100 km.
Although we have not actually test-driven the 2020 G3 model, it is good and necessary for automakers to continuously improve the user experience based on user feedback.
Furthermore, the G3 model has become more intelligent. The XPILOT of 2020 G3 has added the TJA Traffic Congestion Assistance Function and ALC Automatic Lane Change Assistance. In other words, the G3 can achieve adaptive cruise control and lane centering control in full-speed sections, and supports automatic lane change through turn signal.
Of course, intelligence is a progressive update that both new and old models can enjoy. The mid-range and above models are all equipped with driving assistance hardware as standard, which can be implemented through OTA later.
On December 12th, 2018, XPeng G3 was officially released. Compared with other first-tier new energy vehicle companies, XPeng was half a year late, and the NEDC endurance of more than 300 kilometers has also been criticized by users. However, today’s release of the new G3 has officially reversed this situation.
Moreover, the improvement of endurance, configuration, and functions has not been reflected in the price. The new G3 has two endurance options, and three configuration versions, with a subsidized sale price of 143,800 yuan/163,800 yuan/180,800 yuan and 159,800 yuan/179,800 yuan/196,800 yuan, respectively. Compared to the previous model’s sale price of 155,800 yuan/177,800 yuan/199,800 yuan, the price has not only not risen, but has also fallen slightly.
Current XPeng G3 subsidized sales price
Attracting New Users, Abandoning Old Ones? How Do XPeng G3 Owners View It?
For automakers, continuous high-speed iteration keeps them at the forefront of the industry, attracting more consumers who are holding back their spending. Tesla is one example, where continuous iterative updates have sustained the attractiveness of its products.
However, from the perspective of users, frequent and significant upgrades are difficult to accept. Cars are different from mobile phones; they are high-cost, low-frequency consumer goods, often replaced after a long period of 10 years. It has only been half a year since the 19th G3 model was launched, and some have only received their cars for two months. Facing such a dramatic improvement in performance, how do they view it? What do they think?This afternoon, I interviewed four owners of XPeng G3 and one potential customer from our No. 42 community. The earliest owner received the first batch of cars, while the latest one only received the car in mid-May.
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The first owner: DouDou
This owner is a loyal fan of Tesla. Considering the high price of Tesla, he chose XPeng, which is very similar to Tesla. Although G3 still has many shortcomings, the overall satisfaction of the owner is still very high. Although there is no intention to return the car, the owner hopes that XPeng can provide some compensation, which is not a discount for supercharging, because such compensation is not powerful enough for the owners who have home charging conditions.
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The second owner: Vivi
Vivi went for the assisted driving, and overall is quite satisfied with the car except for the unsatisfactory endurance and braking. However, the owner thinks that XPeng is not fair, as XPeng did not reveal any information about the long-endurance version model before releasing it. Old owners found out that they bought the old model without any discount only after XPeng formally launched the new versions. Owners hope that XPeng can launch a replacement service as soon as possible.
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The third owner: Bone
The owner thought that G3 had a very good appearance and a bit of geeky temperament, but the vehicle quality was generally ordinary since it was a new car, and the brand recognition was not high enough. The owner also thought that XPeng was not fair regarding the launch of the new car, and completely ignored the feelings of the old owners. The owner hopes that XPeng could launch a replacement or compensation plan.
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The fourth owner: Line Walker
We originally wanted to interview a consumer who was still considering buying a G3, but this owner had already received the car in mid-May, just less than two months ago. When purchasing the car, the owner thought that the appearance of G3 was good, the car was easy to drive, and the after-sales service was good, except for the short endurance. But today’s launch of the new version completely crushed his loyalty. The owner hopes that he can replace the new model even if he has to pay more.
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The fifth potential customer: Hat
Hat is a potential customer who was originally attracted by the XPeng’s assisted driving, and also test-drove at the XPeng store. He thinks the driving experience is quite good, but considering his usage scenarios, he felt nervous with the NEDC with a range of more than 300 km. Now that the new version with a 520 km endurance was released, Hat says it can fully meet the needs, and the price has not been raised. He is ready to buy.
Then I asked: What if an upgraded version comes out after you buy it?Hat Brother said that there are enough shortcomings that cannot be seen now, and any new features in the future are unpredictable.
The four car owners we interviewed all think that the car itself is still good and relatively rational, and they did not have extreme emotions or the idea of returning the car due to the new car release. They just hope that XPeng can provide some compensation or replace old cars for old car owners. It can also be seen that most car owners are still quite satisfied with the product, and also hope to see their favorite brand become better and better. However, after all, no one’s money is earned easily, so it is inevitable to feel uncomfortable in such a situation.
At present, power battery technology is in a stage of rapid development. In addition to XPeng, WmAuto, which was sold on the basis of endurance, also announced a 520 km endurance version of the EX5 model in the 320th batch of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s road motor vehicle production and product files, which means that an increasing number of pure electric vehicles on the market will have a NEDC range of 500 km.
In the eyes of many consumers, when the pure electric endurance of an electric vehicle exceeds 500 km, it will greatly reduce their mileage anxiety and gradually become practical. The survey results of our WeChat mini program show that 43% of consumers only consider electric vehicles when the NEDC is over 500 km, so NEDC 500 km is a critical point.
Rapid development is a good thing, but it is also hoped that car companies can make adequate preparations before upgrading their products. It is also very important to maintain stable sales policies during product upgrades. At the same time, consumers who buy new energy vehicles should be mentally prepared, accept the current situation, and embrace change.* Xpeng G3 has achieved 10,000 units, who will be next?
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.