During its AI Day event in Guangzhou, XPeng revealed plans to launch three robotaxi models in 2026, powered by its self-developed Turing AI chips and second-generation vision-language-action (VLA) model. This marks a dramatic shift from the company's previous stance that robotaxis were not a near-term business, driven by faster-than-expected AI advancements.
Each robotaxi will utilize four Turing AI chips, delivering a total computing performance of 3,000 TOPS—claimed to be the highest in-car computing power worldwide. The VLA model enables the vehicles to process visual input and act autonomously without human instruction, featuring external displays on sun visors to show speed and trip information to pedestrians.
XPeng has partnered with Alibaba, leveraging AutoNavi mapping and the Amaps ride-hailing platform for routing and booking, integrating directly into existing services rather than building a new platform. Testing will begin in Guangzhou in 2026 and expand to other Chinese cities, positioning XPeng against competitors like Pony.ai, WeRide, and Baidu.
Co-President Brian Gu acknowledged that XPeng has been developing some autonomous technology, such as flying cars and humanoid robotics, earlier than Tesla, but Tesla has been more aggressive in publicizing its plans. Gu attributed the change in strategy to rapid AI developments and increased computing power.
Additionally, XPeng introduced its second-generation Iron humanoid robot, scheduled for mass production by the end of 2026. The robot uses three Turing chips and a solid-state battery, with customization options for body shapes and hairstyles. CEO He Xiaopeng stated that the robots will initially serve as tour guides, sales assistants, and in office buildings, starting at XPeng's own facilities, and predicted that robot sales would exceed car sales over the next decade.
XPeng also announced a new driver-assist system for narrow roads, set for release in the first quarter of 2026. Volkswagen will be the first external manufacturer to adopt the system, which XPeng claims requires less manual input than Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) and completed test routes faster. The company began rolling out its driver-assist software in major Chinese cities in early 2023, capitalizing on a crowded domestic EV market.
ETH
DOGE
BTC