Xpeng and UAE dealer Ali & Sons will open another store in Abu Dhabi next year, in addition to the Dubai store it has opened.

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) is further expanding its footprint in the Middle East with the launch of two models in the United Arab Emirates.

Xpeng recently teamed up with its UAE partner Ali & Sons Holding LLC to launch the G6 and G9 SUV (sport utility vehicle) models in Dubai, marking the company's official entry into the UAE market and an important milestone in its strategic footprint in the Middle East, the EV maker said in a press release last night.

The company, together with Ali & Sons subsidiary GSM, has already established a sales channel in the UAE and will open another store in Abu Dhabi next year, in addition to the one it has already opened in Dubai, Xpeng said.

Xpeng will leverage Ali & Sons' operational experience and local strengths to quickly integrate into the UAE market, the company said, adding that it will also leverage the differentiation of its own smart products to build competitiveness.

Established in 1979 in Abu Dhabi, Ali & Sons represents a number of brands in the UAE, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Skoda, and has a strong automotive segment business, Xpeng's press release noted.

Ali & Sons and Xpeng will establish a comprehensive distribution network in the UAE, and after the introduction of the G6 and G9, will also introduce the X9 MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) to further enhance the product lineup, said Mohammad Al Dhaheri, managing director of Ali & Sons Automotive.

Xpeng has significantly stepped up its efforts to expand internationally in the past year. In the Middle East, the company entered into a partnership with Freesbe, one of Israel's largest automotive dealership groups, in July 2023 to tap the local market.

At the end of September last year, Xpeng shipped 750 units of the G9 and the P7 sedan to Israel from Guangzhou, the city where it is headquartered, in its single largest shipment to an overseas market.

On February 22 this year, Xpeng announced dealer partnerships in the UAE, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Jordan and Lebanon. The Chinese EV maker's partners in these five countries are:

UAE, Ali&Sons

Egypt, RAYA

Azerbaijan, SR Group

Jordan, T Gargour and Fils

Lebanon, Gargour Asia SAL

As of today, Xpeng has launched products in the Middle East in markets including Israel, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and the UAE, it said in the press release yesterday.

In the Israeli market, Xpeng is the top-selling brand of mid-to-large-size pure electric SUVs there, it said.

In addition, Xpeng is the first Chinese smart EV brand to launch pure electric models in the Egyptian and African markets, according to its press release.

Xpeng will next continue to expand into core regions such as Europe, ASEAN, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania, it said.

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