Although Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers such as sector powerhouse XPeng Inc – ADR (NYSE:XPEV) benefited from significant interest earlier this decade, recent years have witnessed lackluster market performances. Nevertheless, Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk recognizes the upside potential of XPEV stock and its ilk.Last year, during Tesla's fourth-quarter earnings call in January, Musk had choice words for the Chinese EV competition. "Frankly, I think if there are not trade barriers established, they will pretty much demolish most other car companies in the world. So they’re extremely good."It's not just empty praise. In the middle of 2024, XPeng announced that it would reorganize its smart driving team in a bid to stay competitive in the autonomous mobility space. Part of this overall directive was the establishment of an artificial intelligence department to concentrate on innovative technologies such as end-to-end solutions.A few days ago, a Reuters report indicated that XPeng will hire more than 6,000 workers this year, a response to the expected rise in competition. Further, the company seeks to expand its global footprint to over 60 markets in 2025. The ambitiousness appears justified, especially given November's deliveries count of 30,895 vehicles, representing a 54% year-over-year increase.XPeng Stock Could Be Due For a ComebackAlthough XPeng investors seemingly enjoy multiple fundamental catalysts, the stock simply has not cooperated. Over the past 52 ...Full story available on Benzinga.com