... Analysts at Jefferies on Friday upgraded their rating on China's XPeng Inc. shares XPEV 9868 to buy, from hold, saying that Volkswagen AG's partnership with the EV maker marks "the start of China OEMs exporting technologies to foreign players." The partnership will help Xpeng to increase its brand image globally, the Jefferies analysts said. Moreover, sales momentum is "on an uptrend," they said.