Leading Chinese smart EV company XPeng Inc. and global leading automobile manufacturer Volkswagen Group jointly announced on July 22, 2024 that, further to the framework agreement on technical collaboration with respect to electrical/electronic architecture (“E/E Architecture”) dated April 17, 2024, XPENG and the Volkswagen Group have entered into a Master Agreement on E/E Collaboration (the “Master Agreement”).

Under the E/E Architecture technical collaboration, XPeng and the Volkswagen Group will jointly develop industry-leading E/E Architecture for all locally produced vehicles, based on Volkswagen’s China Main Platform (CMP) and Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform. The close technical collaboration enables the first vehicle equipped with the jointly developed E/E Architecture to SOP within approximately 24 months.

Under the Master Agreement, XPeng and Volkswagen Group will actively explore further collaboration opportunities to expand the scope of the usage of the jointly developed E/E Architecture.

This marks the third time that Fangda has represented XPeng in important strategic partnership projects, following the 2023 strategic cooperation between XPeng and Volkswagen Group to jointly develop Volkswagen-branded B-class new energy vehicles and the issuance of shares to Volkswagen, as well as representing XPeng in acquiring Didi’s smart EV business by issuance of shares to Didi.

Fangda Partners acted as XPeng’s transaction counsel in the deal. The Fangda team was led by Corporate partner Norman ZHONG and IP partner Claudia YUN, and the team members included counsels Yixin ZHANG, Jason XU, Qian GUAN and associate Kyle LIU, etc.