KUALA LUMPUR (March 14): Bermaz Auto Bhd has secured the rights to sell XPeng's vehicles and spare parts in Malaysia, and to provide after-sales services for the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) marque.

Bermaz Auto currently has distributorship rights for two other automotive marques — Mazda and Kia — after automotive giant Stellantis decided to take over the sales and distribution of Peugeot vehicles in Malaysia from Bermaz Auto from March 1 this year.

The XPeng distributorship was awarded by Shenzhen Xiaopeng Motors Supply Chain Management Co Ltd (Shenzhen XPeng) and Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Trading Co Ltd (Guangzhou XPeng), Bermaz Auto said in a statement.

Shenzhen XPeng and Guangzhou XPeng oversee the distribution and sale of XPeng's smart EVs, sale of spare parts and merchandising, and the provision of after-sales services globally, according to Bermaz.

Both Shenzhen XPeng and Guangzhou XPeng are affiliates of Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co Ltd (XPeng Motors), the manufacturer of the XPeng marque smart EVs that is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with offices in California, US and Munich, Germany.

XPeng Motors’ stock is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

“This new distributorship will complement our group’s existing EV business and will bring positive synergistic benefits to all parties. It is also in line with our group’s sustainability initiatives to manage and minimise our environmental footprint by introducing more green vehicles and technologies,” said Bermaz Auto chief executive officer Datuk Francis Lee Kok Chuan.

“XPeng group intends to expand its business operations over the next three years. Artificial intelligence is the key area of investment, designed to make our smart EVs more efficient, convenient, and accessible to appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers. Our mission is to drive smart EV transformation with technology, shaping the mobility experience of the future and to optimise our customers’ mobility experience,” said XPeng founder and chief executive He Xiaopeng in the same statement.

Bermaz Auto shares dipped seven sen or 2.8% to close at RM2.41 on Thursday, giving it a market capitalisation of RM2.82 billion. Year to date, the stock has climbed 3.43%.