Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Xpeng is actively promoting its latest model while increasing its investment in Ireland, undeterred by the European Union's EV tariffs implemented at the end of last year. The latest model of Xpeng SUV, the G6 Coupe, boasts impressive performance. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and offer a range of 570 km on a single charge. It is also equipped with advanced AI technology that brings customers closer to autonomous driving experiences. At a gleaming new showroom of the MSL Grange Motors in Dublin, consumers are exploring the new model and placing their orders. "We've actually called for more stock, and we had orders put in last week because of the volume that we sold over the last week. So one week [after opening, on] the weekend we sold 12 Xpengs. And now we have more cars on order and they're on their way from China as we speak, so it's really good times for Xpeng in Ireland," said Alan Furlong, MSL Xpeng Brand Manager. Xpeng, though only a decade old, has ambitious plans to expand sales to 60 countries, with the G6 Coupe targeting the Tesla Model Y. The Model Y made history as the best-selling car worldwide in 2023, marking a significant milestone for EVs, and it continued to dominate sales in 2024. Xpeng is trying to compete by offering better technology as standard features, like the G6 Coupe's AI-powered autonomous driving capabilities and a price tag that's approximately $10,000 lower. The company's investment in Ireland further demonstrates that the European Union's EV tariffs are not hindering the rollout of Chinese EVs, said experts. "[With regards to] tariffs, people are just looking [for]: is it good value, [does] the vehicle itself have the range, have the size, can I fit the kids in it, can the dog fit in the boot. Now it's CPU this and AI that and voice assistant. And the Chinese cars just have it all, and the European manufacturers are kind of playing catch up to all of that, kind of, what consumers are actually looking for. Tariffs are driving more innovation. But also, I think the Chinese manufacturers have optimized real lean manufacturing, and they could probably, and they are taking that tariff in, the ability to soak that in and still have a competitively priced vehicle that European customers and Irish customers are happy to pay for," said Derek Reilly, an EV expert.
Chinese EV maker Xpeng expands presence in Ireland
From cutting-edge technology exhibitions to retail stores thousands of kilometers away from Europe and Southeast Asia, China-made robot vacuum cleaners are increasingly becoming a popular choice among consumers worldwide.
At electronics retailers in Berlin, Germany, Chinese brands such as Roborock and Dreame occupy prominent positions in dedicated robot vacuum sections, offering a wide range of products priced between 200 and 2,000 euros.
Many local consumers said that when purchasing smart home appliances including robot vacuum cleaners, they tend to give priority to Chinese-made products.
"It's a good price and good quality. It's also the innovation. I have a feeling that the European brands are not innovating enough," said one customer.
"I think they're always on top of the other technologies. They are getting them out faster. A lot of us are switching to the Chinese technology," another consumer said.
Germany is one of the most important overseas markets for China's floor-cleaning robots.
According to data from market research firm GfK, from January to November 2025, more than six out of 10 robot vacuum cleaners sold in Western Europe were Chinese brands.
Industry data also point to a strong global momentum.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), global shipments of smart robot vacuum cleaners reached 17.424 million units in the first three quarters of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.7 percent.
Chinese brands including Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi and Narwal ranked among the world's top five in terms of shipment volume, with a combined share of nearly 70 percent of the global market.
At a robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing plant in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, workers were seen stepping up production of newly launched models that recently debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in the United States, which concluded Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The factory adjusted its production lines as early as December 2025 and stocked inventory in advance for overseas markets to ensure that new products could be delivered to global consumers at the earliest possible time.
"In 2025, Roborock's global shipments exceeded 7.2 million units. Since 2024, overseas revenue has accounted for more than 50 percent of our total revenue. Our products have now been sold to more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than 20 million households worldwide," said Quan Gang, president of Roborock.
At another robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing facility in Dongguan, Guangdong, rising overseas orders have prompted the company to upgrade its production lines with intelligent technologies to further boost capacity. The factory is currently operating at full load to meet a growing demand.
"For 2026, we have already obtained overseas orders worth at least 300 million to 400 million yuan (around 43 million to 57.3 million U.S. dollars). In addition, we've engaged in strategic cooperation with European home appliance group Cebos Group, and our total confirmed orders have exceeded 600 million yuan (around 86 million U.S. dollars)," said Zhang Junbin, founder and CEO of Narwal Robotics.
Chinese robot vacuum brands gain strong global traction
