XPENG is betting that the fastest route to winning over Gulf drivers runs through a fuel tank. At its Dubai Brand Night, the Chinese automaker introduced its Kunpeng Range Extender technology on two new flagship SUVs, the GX and G9L, alongside a regional expansion plan that is a lot more aggressive than anything it has attempted here so far.
The pitch is simple. Electric motors drive the wheels at all times, while an onboard generator tops up the battery when needed. Combined range is quoted at up to 1,210 km, though that figure is measured on the NEDC cycle, which is known for generous estimates that rarely survive real-world driving, let alone summer air conditioning in Abu Dhabi. When a compatible fast charger is available, the 800V platform can take the battery from 10% to 80% in around 10.7 minutes, the company says. To prove the point, XPENG drove a GX 1,231 km from the UAE to Oman through Liwa without plugging in.
Extended-range EVs have become a major segment in China. In this region they make obvious sense, given long highway distances, extreme heat and patchy charging outside major cities. They also let buyers ease into electrification without fully committing to it.
The GX is the executive three-row option, priced at AED 299,000 for the Flagship Edition in the UAE. XPENG claims more than 4,000 orders across the Middle East and Africa, including 800 in the UAE, before a single delivery. The G9L, from AED 259,000 in pre-sale, leans toward families and adds up to 15 degrees of rear-wheel steering for a turning circle under 5.5 metres. Both get an 88-inch AR head-up display, a 21.4-inch rear screen, built-in refrigerators and massaging zero-gravity seats. Each launches in 11 markets.
Beyond cars, XPENG brought its IRON humanoid robot to Dubai, with overseas deliveries targeted for the first half of 2027. Its flying car affiliate ARIDGE is working with Ras Al Khaimah on a regulatory sandbox. Those ambitions make headlines, but whether XPENG’s service network can keep pace with this rapid expansion will matter more to buyers.