---
title: "Tesla-Inspired Chinese Automaker Launches First All-Electric SUV"
description: "Tesla open-sourced their patents in 2014 in the hopes of inspiring others to create their own electric cars. Three years later, Chinese company Xiaopeng Motors has debuted their first all-electric SUV, and it has a few similarities with Tesla's SUV."
date: "2017-10-25"
modified: "2017-10-25"
authors:
  - name: "Kyree Leary"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kyree"
url: "https://futurism.com/tesla-inspired-chinese-automaker-launches-first-all-electric-suv"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Tesla"
tags:
  - "electric vehicles"
  - "elon musk"
  - "tesla"
  - "xiaopeng motors"
---

# Tesla-Inspired Chinese Automaker Launches First All-Electric SUV

![xiaopeng motors tesla electric vehicles elon musk](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bg_spec_1.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://www.xiaopeng.com/xpeng#page1" target="\_blank"\>Xpeng\</a\>\</em\>*

## I Can't Believe It's Not Tesla

In 2014, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company was taking an open-sourced approach to their patents, allowing [anyone to use them](<https://www.tesla.com/blog/all-our-patent-are-belong-you?redirect=no>) to forward the development and adoption of electric vehicles. This month, Tesla-inspired Chinese automaker Xiaopeng Motors [launched the beta version](<http://news.xinhuanet.com/info/2017-10/12/c_136674507.htm>) of their first all-electric SUV.

[As reported by ](<https://electrek.co/2017/10/24/tesla-clone-chinese-ev-startup-all-electric-suv-open-source-patent/>)*[Electrek](<https://electrek.co/2017/10/24/tesla-clone-chinese-ev-startup-all-electric-suv-open-source-patent/>)*, it's hard to know which of Tesla's patents Xiaopeng Motors used, but its clear their first vehicle certainly shares more than a few things with the California company's own vehicles— specifically, [the Model X](<https://www.tesla.com/modelx>). Xiaopeng's SUV uses the same 18650 battery cell format as Tesla's SUV, albeit with Samsung li-ion cells. This results in a vehicle with less range; Xiaopeng's 300 km (186 miles) versus the Model X's proposed 474 km (295 miles).

![The new SUV's interior, created by Tesla-inspired Chinese automaker Xiaopeng Motors, shares quite a few similarities with the Model X.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Model-X_XPENG_Interior_Comparison.jpg>)
*Compare the Tesla Model X interior, at the top, with Xiaopeng's Beta interior at the bottom. (Image Credit: Tesla, Xiaopeng Motors)*

Then there's the LCD instrument display, as well as the central touchscreen located in the interior. Both of these are almost 1:1 with those found in Tesla's vehicles. Beyond that, the Chinese automaker intends to introduce driver assist and self-driving capabilities similar to Tesla Autopilot. Interestingly enough, [they recently hired Junli Gu](<http://tech.sina.com.cn/it/2017-10-23/doc-ifymzzpv9591039.shtml>), who worked at Tesla [as the machine learning lead](<https://electrek.co/2016/02/26/tesla-machine-learning-expert-autopilot/>) for Autopilot.

It seems clear that Tesla's readily available patents are allowing others to create new electric vehicles of their own, which will allow people to familiarize themselves with the concept. As a result, electric vehicles may[ soon become the norm](<https://futurism.com/90-percent-of-vehicles-in-the-u-s-could-be-electric-by-the-early-2040s>). Given that they're needed to reduce emissions, ensure cleaner air, and cut our reliance on fossil fuels, dealing with cars that all look a bit alike may be a fair price to pay.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/KyreeLeary>)