Xpeng to Debut Robotaxis, Humanoid Robots Powered by In-House AI Chips

Guangzhou, CHINA — Xpeng, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, is accelerating its ambitions beyond EVs, signaling a strategic pivot towards AI-driven mobility solutions. The company unveiled its latest humanoid robot model and announced plans to launch a robotaxi service next year, a significant shift from earlier skepticism regarding the near-term viability of robotaxis as a genuine business.

This technological thrust aligns Xpeng with its rival, Tesla, as both companies vie to establish themselves as comprehensive technology firms rather than solely automotive manufacturers. The strategic diversification reflects a broader industry trend of integrating artificial intelligence and autonomous driving technologies to unlock new revenue streams and solidify long-term market positioning.

During its “AI Day” presentation, Xpeng detailed its plans for deploying three distinct robotaxi models, all powered by four internally developed “Turing” AI chips. Xpeng boasts that these chips deliver a cumulative computing power of 3,000 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), which the company claims is the highest in-car computing capability globally. This claim, if substantiated, offers Xpeng a considerable edge in processing the complex data streams required for Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous driving.

These semiconductors underpin Xpeng’s second-generation “vision-language-action (VLA)” model. VLA models are crucial for autonomous vehicles and robotics as they process various inputs, including visual data, to facilitate seamless navigation and decision-making. By integrating these capabilities into their robotaxi fleet, Xpeng aims to deliver a safe and efficient autonomous transportation experience.

Alibaba plays a crucial role in this venture, as the e-commerce juggernaut announced that they are partnering with Xpeng on robotaxis through AutoNavi, Alibaba’s digital mapping subsidiary and Amaps app, which also features a ride-hailing service. This collaboration is vital as it leverages Alibaba’s vast data resources and mapping expertise. The integration of Amaps app allows users access to reliable and up-to-date geospatial data and seamless ride-hailing capabilities.

The Xpeng robotaxi features an innovative external display on the sun visors showing speed and traffic information. Xpeng plans to start a test run of robotaxis in Guangzhou and other major cities in China next year.

Echoing the company’s evolving stance, Co-president Brian Gu stated last week that robotaxis are poised to become a “global phenomenon,” yet acknowledged that regulatory hurdles remain a significant barrier. This perspective marks a notable departure from Gu’s April 2024 assessment, where he foresaw that self-driving taxis would take at least five years to achieve meaningful commercial traction.

Addressing the apparent shift in perspective, Gu stated during a group interview with reporters, “The tech is happening faster than we anticipated.”

Gu further emphasized that rapid advancements in AI and the substantial surge in computing power provide “the confidence we are near the inflection point” for robotaxis.

Xpeng’s robotaxi strategy focuses on two distinct categories: one tailored for commercial self-driving shared vehicles and the other for fully autonomous personal cars designed for family use. This strategic segmentation enables them to cater to diverse consumer preferences and market demands, further fortifying their position in the autonomous vehicle sector.

Xpeng’s robotaxi announcements arrive amidst aggressive expansion strategies among Chinese autonomous driving companies such as Pony.ai, WeRide, and Baidu, who have already launched self-driving taxis in select Chinese cities. Meanwhile, Tesla recently introduced its robotaxi program in Texas earlier this year. This competitive climate underscores the intensifying global race towards autonomous mobility solutions.

Following Tesla’s foray into humanoid robotics, Xpeng unveiled its second-generation Iron robot. Xpeng anticipates commencing mass production of these robots next year, showcasing its commitment to diversifying beyond electric vehicles.

During a presentation, CEO He Xiaopeng tempered expectations about the immediate deployment of humanoids in domestic environments. Citing China’s relatively inexpensive labor, he deemed factory use unprofitable. He projected that the initial applications of these robots will primarily focus on roles like tour guides, sales assistants, and office building guides, initially at the company’s facilities.

Despite the uncertainties surrounding the long-term market potential, He Xiaopeng expressed optimism that robotic sales will surpass vehicle sales within the next decade.

The humanoid robot boasts three of Xpeng’s Turing AI chips and a solid-state battery, with prospective customizability for various aspects such as body shape and hairstyle. The application of solid-state batteries for these robots is a noteworthy technological decision, potentially giving advanced features like enhanced safety, lifespan, and energy density to the robot.

Co-President of Xpeng, Gu, revealed that the company had been developing some technologies before Tesla but did not actively publicized them.

“What we are pursuing from a tech and product perspective, there are some similarities with Tesla…There are some areas that we probably started earlier than Tesla,” stated Gu, mentioning flying cars and humanoid robots.

Xpeng has been developing a flying car product.

However, Gu admitted that Tesla has been more proactive in sharing its commercialization programs. However, recently Xpeng also started sharing their goals and planning.