Fierce EV competition in China spurs off-the-wall features

Top EV makers are facing a slowdown in demand at home as consumers curb spending, just as geopolitical tensions with major Western economies cloud the outlook for exports. Meanwhile for smaller players, the ability to think creatively is core to their survival, with the cut-throat industry bracing for a likely wave of consolidation as China looks to rein in the excesses left behind by years of generous subsidies.

The high-tech offerings also highlight the risk for Western manufacturers should they fall even further behind in carving out market share in the world’s biggest auto market. China-made vehicles are viewed by local customers as better suited to their extensive technology demands and preference for high levels of connectivity.

Read more: Chinese EVs seen as status symbols are being bought new in countries where they aren’t officially sold yet thanks to a loophole

“While legacy automakers still only focus on the drivability of a car, Chinese companies are not satisfied with that,” Wang Binggang, an Xpeng Inc. salesperson, said in a showroom in central Shanghai. “We are extending the possibilities to all kinds of living and recreational scenarios, and that’s part of the reason why customers love e-cars these days.”

Here’s a look at some of the offbeat offerings now available in China:

1. Sleeping Kits

Just one click on the in-car display in Xpeng’s G9, an SUV with a starting price at 263,900 yuan ($36,700), and it turns into a bed that comfortably sleeps two people.

Drivers who install the so-called sleeping kit feature are able to make both front and back seats lay completely flat, then watch as a double-size air mattress unfolds and is automatically inflated. The company is looking to muscle in…