(Yicai) Jan. 6 -- Chinese new energy vehicle startup Xpeng Motors and the local unit of German auto giant Volkswagen have penned a non-binding agreement to jointly develop China's largest ultra-fast charging network.

Xpeng and VW Group China have agreed to open their proprietary ultra-fast charging networks to each other, giving their customers access to an ultra-fast charging network of over 20,000 stations in 420 Chinese cities, the pair announced today.

To speed up the expansion of charging infrastructure and enhance the synergistic effects of Xpeng and VW's respective networks, the two carmakers will also explore co-building branded ultra-fast charging stations, they pointed out.

This is the fourth cooperation agreement between Xpeng and VW since the two began a long-term strategic partnership in 2023. The two companies plan to explore further collaborations, expand technical alliances, and strengthen mutually beneficial ties, they noted.

Volkswagen invested USD700 million for a 5 percent stake in Guangzhou-based Xpeng in July 2023 and said the pair would jointly produce two mid-size electric vehicles in Hefei, the capital of China's Anhui province, which will likely launch in 2026.

In April, the pair penned an agreement to jointly develop an electronic/electrical architecture for the Chinese market. The two will develop and integrate Xpeng's latest generation E/E architecture to Volkswagen's China Main Platform, using it in VW brand EVs made in the country from 2026.

Editor: Martin Kadiev