XPeng Mona L05 launched from $20,600 as global shipments begin

XPeng has launched the Mona L05 in China, a five-seat mid-size SUV available as both a pure electric and a range-extender model, starting from RMB 139,800 — well below its pre-sale price. Orders placed by 15 December also receive RMB 5,000 off plus free front zero-gravity seats, a 20-speaker sound system and purple paint.

When pre-sales opened in mid-October, the L05 started at RMB 169,800. XPeng cut each of the five variants by RMB 15,000 and added a new entry-level 560 Plus trim. The revised launch prices are:

• 560 Plus EV: RMB 139,800 (guide price RMB 144,800) — approx. $20,600
• 535 Max EV: RMB 149,800 (guide RMB 154,800) — approx. $22,600
• 635 Max EV: RMB 159,800 (guide RMB 164,800) — approx. $24,500
• 635 Ultra SE EV: RMB 171,800 (guide RMB 176,800) — approx. $25,300
• 1310 Max EREV: RMB 149,800 (guide RMB 154,800) — approx. $22,600
• 1310 Ultra SE EREV: RMB 161,800 (guide RMB 166,800) — approx. $23,900

All versions share a single 183kW, 280Nm rear motor. EVs come with a choice of batteries: a 58.2kWh LFP pack delivering 560km CLTC range on the 560 Plus or 535km on the 535 Max, and a 71.1kWh unit for 635km. The EREV carries a 37.2kWh battery for 310km of electric range, extending to 1,310km with its 42-litre tank. XPeng quotes 30-80% fast charging in 15.8 minutes for EVs and 10.1 minutes for the EREV.

At 4,870mm long with a 2,940mm wheelbase, the L05 sits a size up from the compact Mona L03 launched in July. It features a sloping roofline, frameless doors, a 702-litre boot expanding to 1,913 litres, and a 102-litre front trunk on EV models.

The Ultra SE trims get two Turing chips with 1,500 TOPS of computing power, running XPeng's second-generation VLA driver-assistance system. The Max versions use a single chip with a distilled VLA 2.0 Lite model, which XPeng claims retains more than 90% of the full system's capability. The architecture mirrors that used in XPeng's robotaxi fleet. A new safety feature automatically pulls the car over and raises an alarm if the driver becomes incapacitated during assisted highway driving.

Inside, a 17.3-inch centre screen, a 26.8-inch head-up display and XPeng's Master Agent AI assistant complete the cabin. The passenger seat is a zero-gravity unit with massage, and the rear bench reclines electrically.

XPeng developed left- and right-hand-drive versions simultaneously and plans to sell the L05 in 65 countries, with Europe arriving in 2027. The company says 660 test cars have covered over 5 million km across 25 countries, from -25°C in Norway to 50°C in the UAE. Deliveries begin 1 November; global shipments started on 26 October.

XPeng delivered 41,256 vehicles in September, its best month this year, though the January-to-September total of 284,367 fell 9.2% year on year. Chairman He Xiaopeng said the company aims for over 60,000 monthly sales in Q4, buoyed by the G9L and L05 launches.