Chinese EV Manufacturer Enters Yacht Market

XPeng is reported to have established a yacht development team as part of a wider strategy spanning land, sea and air mobility.

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer XPeng has reportedly entered the yacht sector, establishing a dedicated research and development program focused on marine applications.

According to Chinese media reports cited by CnEVPost, XPeng formed an R&D team of nearly 100 people earlier this year to work on a yacht project internally codenamed “Flying Fish”. The program is reportedly led by Qian Zhanwei, head of vehicle architecture at the company.

The yacht project remains in the early stages of development. Reports indicate that XPeng intends to focus on applying advanced chassis algorithm technology as a key differentiator in future products.

The reported move represents a further expansion of XPeng’s ambitions beyond electric vehicles and flying cars, as the company seeks to build what has been described as a land, sea and air mobility ecosystem.

According to the reports, the target market for the yacht project will be high-net-worth family buyers. 

XPeng has reportedly established a dedicated marine R&D team as part of plans to develop a yacht project codenamed “Flying Fish”.

The company is not the first automotive manufacturer to explore opportunities in the yacht sector. Several premium automotive brands, including Mercedes-AMG, Lamborghini and Porsche, have previously launched yacht projects, seeking to transfer expertise in design, technology and brand positioning to the marine market.

XPeng is a China-based electric vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Guangzhou. Founded in 2014, the company develops electric vehicles, autonomous driving technologies and flying car concepts through its AeroHT division and has expanded its presence in international markets across Asia and Europe.

XPeng has not publicly commented on the reports.