**Xpeng to Launch Robotaxis and Unveil Latest Humanoid Robot Model**
*Guangzhou, China* – Chinese electric car company Xpeng has announced plans to launch robotaxis next year, marking a significant shift from its previous stance that robotaxis wouldn’t become a real business anytime soon. The company also revealed its latest humanoid robot model during its recent “AI Day” event, signaling an ambitious push into advanced AI technologies.
**Expanding Beyond Electric Vehicles**
Xpeng’s technology advancements echo those of its key competitor Tesla, as the Guangzhou-headquartered firm aims to establish itself as more than just an electric vehicle manufacturer. On Wednesday, Xpeng unveiled three new robotaxi models, each powered by four of its self-developed “Turing” AI chips.
According to Xpeng, these chips offer the highest combined in-car computing power globally, boasting 3,000 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), a leading metric in the industry. These powerful semiconductors support Xpeng’s “vision-language-action (VLA)” AI model, now in its second generation. This model integrates visual cues and other inputs, enabling applications such as driverless cars and robotics.
**Collaboration with Alibaba**
Adding to the momentum, Alibaba announced on Wednesday a new partnership with Xpeng to advance robotaxi services. The collaboration involves Alibaba’s digital mapping subsidiary AutoNavi and its Amaps app, which also features a ride-hailing portal. This partnership aims to enhance navigation and user experience for future robotaxi deployments.
**Robotaxi Features and Testing**
The upcoming Xpeng robotaxis include an innovative external display on the vehicle’s sun visors, showing speed and other relevant information to passengers and pedestrians alike. The company plans to begin testing these robotaxis in Guangzhou and other Chinese cities starting next year.
Brian Gu, Xpeng’s Co-president, told CNBC last week that while robotaxis are expected to become a global phenomenon, widespread adoption will take time due to regulatory challenges. Back in April 2024, Gu had cautioned that self-driving taxis wouldn’t be a significant business for at least five years.
However, during Wednesday’s group interview, Gu explained his changed perspective: “The tech is happening faster than we anticipated.” He attributed this acceleration to AI breakthroughs and a dramatic increase in computing power, which “give us the confidence we are near the inflection point” for robotaxis.
**Dual Robotaxi Strategy**
Xpeng plans to produce two categories of robotaxis: commercial self-driving shared vehicles and fully autonomous personal cars intended for family use. This approach aims to cater to diverse user needs and accelerate robotaxi adoption.
**Introducing the Second-Generation Iron Humanoid Robot**
In parallel with its robotaxi initiatives, Xpeng announced the second-generation Iron humanoid robot, a move reminiscent of Tesla’s push into robotics. Mass production of the new humanoid robot is slated to begin next year.
CEO He Xiaopeng tempered expectations regarding the robot’s immediate utility in households or factories, noting that the latter is unlikely due to the low labor costs in China. Instead, the robots will initially serve as tour guides, sales assistants, and office guides—starting within Xpeng’s own facilities.
He also mentioned uncertainty about the number of robots the company will sell over the next decade but predicted it would exceed the volume of cars sold.
**Technical Specs and Customization**
The humanoid robot integrates three of Xpeng’s Turing AI chips and is powered by a solid-state battery. Furthermore, Xpeng plans to offer customization options, including features such as body shape and hairstyle, to better suit different applications and customer preferences.
—
Xpeng’s ambitious AI and robotics ventures highlight the company’s intent to redefine its role in the automotive and technology landscape. With robotaxi launches and humanoid robot production on the horizon, Xpeng is poised to become a significant player in the future of autonomous mobility and intelligent robotics.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/05/china-xpeng-to-launch-robotaxis-humanoid-robots-with-own-ai-chips.html
