Global electric car sales are continuing to grow, as a record 6.6 million electric vehicles (EVs) were bought in 2021, with more sold now in just a week than in all of 2012.

China and Europe have seen the largest increase, with China alone accounting for around half of the global total, as demand for EVs tripled in 2021 to 3.3 million.

In Europe, the figures took a similar trajectory, with sales increasing by 65 percent to 2.3 million. 

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As more car companies start to manufacture EVs, the monopoly that Tesla once had is facing stiff competition from all over the globe – especially China. 

Brian Gu, President and Chairman of XPeng Motors, is paving the way for China's role on the global EV platform. 

"We're competing with Tesla in China. We will be competing with Tesla and other brands in Europe," Gu told CGTN's Global Business program.

"But we are very confident because our product strength and the technology position of our product is very transferable from market to market and we think we have a winning edge ultimately if we can focus on our strengths."

Chinese electric cars are typically cheaper than in other markets, meaning that the price gap between traditional and electric is virtually non-existent. 

The average price of an electric car in China was only 10 percent more than that of fuel combustion engine cars, compared with 45 percent to 50 percent on average in other major markets.

With a starting price of about 160,000 yuan ($24,694), XPeng is undercutting Tesla, which starts at 250,900 yuan ($38,723).

But for the company to be able to take advantage of market opportunity in Europe, they will have to establish a stronger presence on the continent. 

"Europe actually is a very attractive market for electric vehicles because it has a very large market with a well-established EV user base and it also has great infrastructure, especially in Northern Europe," said Gu.

"The penetration rate for EV in Europe is actually very similar to China. So we represent also a fast phase of growth, if you look at the maturity of these market developments.

"We're very excited to be able to compete in Europe starting somewhere more than European countries where penetration has been more advanced than other countries."

In order for the company to do this it will need to move beyond its recent Scandinavian expansion and share its ongoing model developments across the wider continent.

"For that I think that the developing industry, which also is similar to what we are developing, is to make sure, while increasing the range of the models, for example, with larger high density batteries at the same time build perfect charging networks," said Gu.