Imagine a car that can almost drive itself, helps you stay safe on the road, and doesn’t even need petrol or diesel to run. Sounds like something from a superhero movie, right? Well, that was the Xpeng P5 – a smart and affordable electric car from China that made a big splash when it was first released.
Let’s take a fun ride into the story of this amazing car, how it changed the way people looked at electric vehicles, and why the company behind it decided to stop making it in 2025.
What Was the Xpeng P5, and Why Was It So Special?
The Xpeng P5 was launched in 2021 by a Chinese company called Xpeng Motors. Now, if you’re thinking, “I’ve never heard of this car!”, that’s okay. It wasn’t sold in every country, but it was pretty famous in China, and among people who love new technology.
What made the P5 stand out was that it was the first mass-produced electric car in the world to use LiDAR. Don’t worry, LiDAR is just a fancy name for a system that uses light beams to “see” the world around it. Kind of like how bats use sound to fly in the dark, the P5 used LiDAR to detect objects, people, other cars, and even road signs. This helped the car drive more safely and made it better at helping the driver.
Pretty cool, right?
The Car That Was Smart AND Comfortable
Now, let’s talk about what it was like inside the Xpeng P5.
Picture this: You’re on a long family trip. Your parents are driving, your sibling is playing a mobile game, and you’re stretching out your legs with plenty of room to relax. That’s the kind of experience the P5 aimed to give. It had a spacious and cozy interior, perfect for families or anyone who liked a comfy ride.
The car also had a 66 kWh battery, which meant it could drive up to 465 kilometers (around 289 miles) on a single charge. To imagine that better – it’s like driving all the way from Delhi to Jaipur and then back, without needing to stop to charge the car!
And here’s another super cool feature: the P5 came with something called XPILOT 2.5. It was like having a robot co-pilot! This system included adaptive cruise control, which meant the car could automatically adjust its speed to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. It also had lane-centering, which helped the car stay in the middle of the lane, so you didn’t accidentally drift to one side.
It didn’t fully drive itself, but it helped a lot – especially in traffic or on long highways.
An Affordable Electric Option
Now, let’s talk money – not the boring kind, but the kind that matters when choosing a new car.
In China, the Xpeng P5 had a starting price of around RMB 157,900 to RMB 223,900. That’s about ₹20 to ₹30 lakh in Indian currency, depending on the model. Compared to other electric cars with similar smart features, this was considered pretty affordable.
It gave people a chance to own a high-tech, electric vehicle without paying a fortune. Think of it like getting a smartphone with all the cool features – but at a price that doesn’t make your parents say, “No way!”
Why Did Xpeng Stop Making the P5 in 2025?
So, if the Xpeng P5 was so good, why did they stop making it?
That’s a great question – and the answer is all about change.
By March 2025, the car company Xpeng decided it was time to move on to newer models. They wanted to focus on their latest and more popular electric SUVs – the G6 and the G9. These SUVs are bigger, stronger, and packed with even more cool features.
You can think of it like this: Imagine you made a really awesome robot for your school project. Everyone loved it. But then, the next year, you decide to build an even better robot that can dance and talk. You’d want to focus all your time and energy on the new one, right? That’s exactly what Xpeng did with their cars.
They also stopped making another older model called the G3i. The company believed that the future of electric cars was heading toward SUVs (which are bigger and great for families), so they decided to give their full attention to improving those.
The Legacy of the Xpeng P5
Even though the P5 is no longer being made, it still holds a special place in the history of electric vehicles.
It was a trailblazer, which means it did something new before anyone else. It proved that you could have a smart, safe, and affordable electric car. It also showed the world how LiDAR could be used to help drivers in everyday life – not just in expensive luxury cars.
People will remember the P5 as the car that helped bring future technology into our present lives.
What Can We Learn from the P5’s Journey?
Here are a few fun lessons we can take from the story of the Xpeng P5:
- Innovation is important: Trying something new – like adding LiDAR to an affordable car – can change an entire industry.
- Technology should help everyone: The P5 was made for everyday people, not just rich folks. That’s how real change happens.
- Sometimes, you have to move on: Even the best products are replaced by something better. And that’s okay. It’s all part of growing and improving.
So, What’s Next for Electric Cars?
Electric cars are becoming more popular every day. More companies are joining the race, and new models are coming out that charge faster, drive farther, and look cooler than ever.
Xpeng P5, the company behind the P5, is now focusing on SUVs like the G6 and G9. These cars are not just electric – they’re smart, safe, and ready for the future. Maybe one day, they’ll even drive themselves while you sit back and play games!
Who knows? Maybe you’ll grow up to design the next great electric car. Wouldn’t that be awesome?
Final Thoughts: A Salute to the Xpeng P5
The Xpeng P5 might no longer be rolling out of the factory, but its impact will keep rolling for a long time. It showed the world what’s possible when you mix smart thinking, caring about the planet, and making things people can actually afford.
So, next time you see an electric car zoom past quietly on the road, just smile and remember – the Xpeng P5 helped make that moment possible.
And hey, if you love cars, technology, and dreaming big, keep your eyes open. The future of driving is electric – and you could be a big part of it.