Josip Šutalo & XPENG: Power Couple for the Future

As one of the world's most innovative manufacturers of electric vehicles, XPENG has entered the Croatian market with a strategic ace up its sleeve: a partnership with Josip Šutalo, the standout center-back for Ajax and the Croatian national team, who has been named the brand's official ambassador. This landmark collaboration, the first ever between a Chinese automotive brand and a Croatian international, is no coincidence. Much like XPENG itself, Šutalo represents a new generation defined by precision, cutting-edge technology, and relentless ambition.

After establishing himself at GNK Dinamo, Josip made the move to Ajax in 2023 in one of the most expensive departures in the Zagreb club's history. In Amsterdam, he quickly established himself as a defensive pillar, renowned for his tactical maturity and composure under pressure. Since his senior debut for Croatia in 2022, Šutalo has become a vital part of the national team, earning a bronze medal at the World Cup in Qatar and a silver in the UEFA Nations League.

YOU'VE GONE FROM ARRIVING AT DINAMO AS A TEENAGER TO MAKING A BIG-MONEY MOVE TO AJAX. WHICH WAS HARDER, COMING TO ZAGREB AS A KID, OR ARRIVING IN AMSTERDAM AS AN ESTABLISHED PLAYER? 
Both situations come with their own challenges, just in different ways. As a kid, you arrive without experience. You have to prove yourself and find your place. As an established player, you arrive with expectations and responsibility. Amsterdam was a bigger step professionally, but Zagreb was the foundation of everything. In a way, it will always feel like home.

YOU'VE WON TWO MEDALS WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM. HOW MUCH DO YOUR EXPERIENCES IN QATAR AND THE NATIONS LEAGUE HELP YOU PREPARE FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP, AND DO YOU BELIEVE CROATIA STILL HAS THE WINNING MENTALITY IT TAKES TO COMPETE AT THE VERY TOP?
Those experiences are invaluable because they teach you how to perform under the greatest pressure. Croatia has been proving for years that it has the character and the mentality for big occasions. We know our quality and our strengths, but we take it one game at a time. There's no point looking too far ahead.

YOU'RE AN AMBASSADOR FOR XPENG, A BRAND THAT STANDS FOR THE FUTURE OF DRIVING. WHAT IMPRESSED YOU MOST ABOUT THEIR MODELS, THE DESIGN, THE ACCELERATION, OR THE TECHNOLOGY?
I'd say a combination of everything, but the technology is what really stands out. The way everything is integrated and how intuitive the driving experience is, that genuinely leaves an impression. On top of that, the design is clean and modern, which personally suits me very well.

YOU LIVE IN AMSTERDAM, ONE OF EUROPE'S LEADERS IN ELECTRIC MOBILITY. HAS THAT CHANGED THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT CARS, AND HAVE YOU FULLY ADJUSTED TO THE SILENCE OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR? 
Amsterdam naturally shifts your perspective because electric mobility and cycling are just part of everyday life there. At first, the silence felt unusual, but now it's one of the biggest advantages. It gives you a sense of calm and control. I think you adapt quickly once you experience how enjoyable the drive actually is.

XPENG IS INVESTING HEAVILY IN INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS AND AUTONOMOUS DRIVING. HOW MUCH WOULD THOSE TECHNOLOGIES HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE AND TRAVEL BETWEEN COMMITMENTS? 
In our schedule, where every day is pretty structured, that kind of technology would genuinely make a difference. It makes driving more relaxed and safer, and gives you a bit more space to focus on what matters.

IF YOU COULD TAKE ANY TEAMMATE ON A ROAD TRIP IN AN XPENG, WHO WOULD MAKE THE BEST CO-DRIVER?
It's hard to single anyone out. We're a tight group in the national team. But given that the G9 is pretty spacious, I'd bring a few of us along, mostly the boys from the defensive line. It's an SUV, after all, and for us centre-backs, that's pretty much ideal.