Xpeng’s delivery slowdown continued in May, but the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer is already showing signs that a turnaround could be underway. Strong early demand for its newly launched GX SUV, combined with growing momentum in overseas markets and autonomous driving technology, could help drive a significant rebound in the coming months.
The company delivered 32,158 vehicles in May, representing a 4.1% decline compared with the same month last year. While the result marked Xpeng’s fifth consecutive month of year-on-year delivery declines, it also showed modest improvement from April, with deliveries rising 3.7% month-over-month.
During the first five months of 2026, Xpeng delivered 125,851 vehicles, down 22.6% from the same period a year ago. Despite the softer performance, the company’s cumulative deliveries have now surpassed 1.14 million vehicles, highlighting its growing presence in China’s highly competitive EV market.
GX SUV Off to a Strong Start
A key factor behind Xpeng’s optimism is the launch of the new GX SUV on May 20. Because the model entered the market late in the month, its impact on May delivery figures was minimal. However, early customer response suggests the vehicle could become an important growth driver.
The GX is available in both fully electric and extended-range electric versions, giving buyers greater flexibility at a time when demand for multiple powertrain options continues to expand in China.
Within just 12 hours of launch, the GX received 24,863 confirmed orders. Notably, more than 80% of those orders were for the range-topping Ultra flagship variants, indicating strong consumer interest in the model’s premium features and technology package.
Xpeng has also adopted an aggressive pricing strategy for the new SUV. The GX starts at a limited-time price of 269,800 yuan (approximately $39,800), positioning it competitively within the mid-to-high-end family SUV segment. The pricing reflects the company’s determination to gain market share in one of the fastest-growing categories in China’s EV market.
Autonomous Driving Milestone
Beyond vehicle sales, Xpeng continues to invest heavily in autonomous driving technology.
In May, the company announced that China’s first factory-installed, mass-produced Level 4 robotaxi developed entirely by an automaker rolled off the production line in Guangzhou. The robotaxi platform is based on the GX and features four in-house developed Turing AI driving chips.
According to Xpeng, the system delivers an impressive 3,000 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) of computing power, placing it among the most powerful autonomous driving platforms currently available. Demonstration operations are expected to begin in the third quarter, representing another important step in the company’s long-term autonomous mobility strategy.
Overseas Expansion Gains Momentum
While domestic competition remains intense, Xpeng is seeing encouraging growth outside China.
The company’s overseas business reached a new milestone in April, when monthly international sales exceeded 6,000 units for the first time. The launch of overseas deliveries for the P7+ played a significant role in achieving that result and demonstrates increasing acceptance of Xpeng’s products in global markets.
International expansion has become an important pillar of Xpeng’s growth strategy as Chinese automakers seek new opportunities beyond their home market. Continued growth abroad could help offset pressure from slowing domestic demand and intense pricing competition.
Outlook
Although Xpeng’s May delivery figures extended a challenging trend, the broader picture appears more encouraging. The GX SUV has generated strong initial demand, overseas sales continue to climb, and the company is making notable progress in autonomous driving technology.
As GX production ramps up and order backlogs begin translating into deliveries, Xpeng could be positioned for a stronger second half of 2026. Investors and industry observers will be watching closely to see whether the new SUV can help reverse the company’s recent delivery declines and restore sustained growth.
[source: CNEVPOST, XPeng]
