On the afternoon of July 3, at the livestreamed global launch of the Xpeng MONA M03, Xpeng Chairman He Xiaopeng shared his candid views on the current state of the automotive industry. Looking back on his decade-long journey in the industry, He expressed concern that the industry prioritizes business and marketing over technological innovation.
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He Xiaopeng noted that when he first entered the auto industry 10 years ago, there was little change in fuel technology. This stagnant environment allowed companies to make profits without making major innovations. But over the past decade, Xiaopeng has pursued numerous technological innovations. Despite these efforts, He noted that many companies in China’s auto market still prioritize product and marketing strategies over true technological advancements.
“Quickly integrating technology may lead to success, but it lacks the joy of true innovation. It’s more like business than passion,” said He Xiaopeng. He stressed the importance of striking a balance between learning from others and committing to deep technological innovation.
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Looking ahead, He said he hopes that Xpeng will continue to focus on technological advancements with sincerity in the next decade, striving to bring more innovation to the market and to China.
During his speech, he spoke at length about the new Mona M03, a new series of the Xpeng brand. This compact pure electric car has an overall length of 4780/1896/1445mm and a wheelbase of 2815mm. The trunk capacity is a generous 621 liters, comparable to a mid-size SUV.
A key focus for the Mona M03 was reducing aerodynamic drag. The vehicle underwent 10 extensive wind tunnel tests spanning more than 100 hours, optimizing 15 key areas. These efforts are said to have reduced the drag coefficient by Cd 0.085 and increased the range by 60 km.
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Few new details were provided about the powertrain, but it was confirmed that the Mona M03 will be available with a choice of 140 kW and 160 kW electric motors, with a top speed of 155 km/h. The car uses a BYD Blade lithium iron phosphate battery, and is available in versions with a range of 515 km or 620 km.
Xpeng has announced that the Mona M03 will be priced under 200,000 RMB (approximately $27,400 USD), with the final price to be announced at the phone’s official launch in August.
Source: Zaker and GSAUTO
