Driver waits for compensation after new EV suddenly stops on freeway
Customers left in the lurch when a Chinese electric vehicle giant terminated its exclusive agreement with an Australian company now have more certainty, but it's been a hard for many.
A Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, XPeng, has announced it will compensate Australian customers who are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars following the termination of its distribution deal with TrueEV. Prabin Gautam, an 85 km/h speeder on the Princes Freeway, found himself stranded when his XPeng G6 suddenly stopped, leaving him unable to move for seven minutes.
The incident prompted Gautam to contact XPeng Australia for compensation and parts, but he has been met with silence. TrueEV, the former distributor, has been placed in receivership, leaving hundreds of customers and creditors in limbo. Most claim they are owed between $1,000 and $9,000, with some also facing issues with parts and services.
XPeng has assured customers they will be looked after, while TrueEV is considering further legal action after its court case was dismissed due to TrueEV's inability to provide the required surety. Meanwhile, Ultra Tune Australia, contracted to provide servicing and roadside assistance, has ceased operations due to unpaid bills, leaving XPeng owners to pay for services themselves.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
