Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) has embarked on a significant expansion into the Middle Eastern market, beginning with Israel. The company has started shipping hundreds of its G9 SUV and P7 sedan models to the country, following an announcement of its plans back in July.
The shipment, which originated from Xpeng’s headquarters in Guangzhou, consisted of 750 units and marks the company’s largest single overseas delivery to date. This is also the second batch of vehicles sent to Israel within the month.
While details about the first shipment remain undisclosed, it was revealed that it left Shanghai earlier this month. The vehicles are expected to officially enter the Israeli market in October through Freesbe, one of the region’s largest dealerships.
The models being shipped have been adapted to meet local consumer needs and are based on the European versions of the vehicles. This move comes as part of a strategic partnership with Freesbe, formerly known as Carasso Motors, which will be responsible for developing Xpeng’s sales and service network in Israel.
Freesbe, a publicly traded company in Israel, represents several major brands including Nissan, Infiniti, Renault, and DACIA. Its subsidiary lease4u is one of Israel’s largest rental companies.
Eric Xu, Vice President and Head of Xpeng’s international business, expressed optimism about the potential of the Israeli EV market and aims to introduce a new level of sophistication with Xpeng’s leading technologies and premium EV products.
The partnership between Xpeng and Freesbe will see an expansion of their sales network to cover major cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem by 2024. Israel is just the first stop for Xpeng in the Middle East market, with plans to enter more neighboring countries as part of its globalization process.