XPeng makes Italy debut as it expands European ambitions

Chinese NEV maker XPeng has entered Italy, a top five automotive market in Europe, as it grows its presence in the continent where modern vehicles were invented.

XPeng announced its entry at the 2025 Milan Design Week, where it showcased its AI-powered P7+, the X2 flying car developed by its affiliate XPeng AeroHT, and a humanoid robot, positioning the brand at the intersection of mobility, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

"We believe in technology with artistry," XPeng President and Vice-Chairman Brian Gu said in a video message. "Just as Marco Polo once bridged East and West, XPeng brings intelligent innovation from China to Milan."

Italy, long seen as a design powerhouse, is accelerating its energy transition through incentives and EV infrastructure investment.

With EV sales surging 59.6 percent in the first two months of 2025 and charging stations expanding at 35 percent annually, XPeng sees a timely opening for market penetration.

Northern cities like Milan and Bologna are driving adoption, where consumers are more willing to pay for low-emission technology amid high fuel prices.

XPeng's growing European footprint now spans over 10 countries. It has already made headlines in Spain, France, and Denmark for record-setting charging performance and multiple tech and design awards.

As it deepens its presence in Southern Europe, XPeng is betting that its blend of advanced software, bold aesthetics, and "China speed" innovation will resonate with the region's design-conscious and sustainability-focused consumers.

In the first quarter this year, XPeng exported 7,615 units, up 370 percent year-on-year. It ranked first among Chinese NEV startups in terms of sales in such countries as Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland, Finland and Belgium.