(Yicai) Feb. 22 -- Xpeng Motors has inked deals with auto dealers in the United Arab Emirates and four other countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, as the Chinese electric vehicle startup pushes ahead with its overseas expansion.

Xpeng joined hands with Abu Dhabi-based Ali & Sons Holding today, the Guangzhou-based firm announced on WeChat. It previously penned deals with Raya Auto in Egypt, SR Group in Azerbaijan, T. Gargour & Fils in Jordan, and Gargour Asia in Lebanon, it added.

The UAE, Azerbaijan, and Egypt are Xpeng's first stops in the Gulf region, Central Asia, and Africa, respectively, it noted. It is also committed to further expanding in Europe, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France, Xpeng added.

Founded in 2014, Xpeng began to expand abroad in 2022, entering first the European markets of Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden by setting up local sales networks before it ventured into the Israeli market last year. 

In the UAE, Xpeng will sell two sport utility vehicles, the G6 and the G9, from the third quarter. Deliveries of its P7 and e-SUV G9 will start in Jordan and Lebanon next quarter, while the models will enter the Egyptian market in the September quarter.

The carmaker plans to hire about 4,000 people this year and hike research and development spending by more than 40 percent from 2023, as it takes steps to survive what founder and Chief Executive He Xiaopeng recently described as the “bloody sea” of competition.

Xpeng's deliveries rose 17 percent to 141,601 units last year, ranking fourth among Chinese EV startups behind rivals Li Auto, Nio, and Leapmotor.

Editor: Martin Kadiev