The Salvador Caetano group, based in Vila Nova de Gaia, has just signed an agreement with the Chinese company XPeng to take over the import and distribution of this brand of electric vehicles in Portugal and Spain, and expects to start sales in the Iberian markets this year.

Founded in 2014 in Guangzhou, XPeng claims the status of leading brand and pioneer in intelligent electric vehicle technologies in the Asian country. The arrival in Portugal follows the "Go Abroad 2.0" strategic plan, presented in 2023, to extend its presence to several countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

This "strategic alliance" with the car manufacturer in which Germany's Volkswagen holds a 4.99% stake - bought last summer for 630 million euros, it provides for the joint development of two electric models for the Chinese market - will, in the words of Sérgio Ribeiro, executive director of Salvador Caetano Auto, "quickly offer XPeng's technologically advanced electric cars on the Iberian Peninsula".

(Source: Sapo, on April 8)