Louth Motors: Xpeng Arrives in Ireland: The Next Big Name in Premium EVs?

Motor Distributors Limit (MDL) may not be a name that you are instantly familiar with but I am sure you are very familiar with the rotating Mercedes-Benz sign on top of MDL’s landmark offices on the Naas Road as you enter/leave Dublin at the start of the N7. Some time ago MDL were the company that had the licences to import Mercedes-Benz Cars and trucks, Volkswagen, Audi and Mazda Cars that over time reverted back to the manufacturers except Mercedes-Benz, whom they have represented here in Ireland since 1954. But if you are around long enough history tends to repeat itself and in 2023 MDL added BYD to their portfolio with Smart following pretty soon afterwards and are building brands all over again. 

Now they have added another, Xpeng. Again a name you may not have heard of but in their 10 year history Xpend seems poised to become the leading premium brand EV manufacturer from China. That is some boast and some growth. They are not in the business of flooding the market to gain traction and sales but are methodically adding markets that fit with their strategy. 

Now that they are here in Ireland, what are they offering? Well premium levels of comfort and refinement that is better, they claim, than any offered by its competitors and the more established brands. The company is led by, and named after, another Teslaesque talismanic leader He Xiaopeng. Teese leaders have some energy and drive and they channel it into giving us a means to drive using electric energy. The immediate offering is their G9 model - think Tesla Model Y direct competitor. I got a short spin in it at the launch and initial impressions are very good and seem to mirror the company’s boasts. It is tech-laden, a refined place to be and the ride is super quiet and comfortable. Lots of space too and a 571 litre boot. It has a heat pump as standard and with 800V battery technology allows for super fast recharging (10%-80% in 20 mins) for that easy-to-live-with feeling that scares non-EV owners/drivers. What more does an Irish motorist need? 

The pricing is super keen as well with the standard range (435 kms) model priced at a very attractive €42,000. Any research will glean that this is eye-catching and merits more investigation and on your own journey to electrification this will stick out primarily on price and then with the levels of standard equipment on board. I’ll get the chance to drive it soon and provide a full report here in Democrat Motoring but in the meantime you can checkout www.xpeng.com/ie for full details.