XPENG Embarks on Autonomous Vehicle Journey with Employee Robotaxi Tests
In a significant step towards autonomous vehicle deployment, XPENG has initiated employee testing of its Robotaxi platform in Guangzhou, China. This development highlights the company’s swift transition from intelligent electric vehicles to advanced autonomous systems underpinned by Physical AI, merely eight months after its announcement at XPENG AI Day 2025.
XPENG’s Chairman and CEO, He Xiaopeng, was the inaugural internal passenger to experience a complete Robotaxi journey. This successful test involved ordering a ride, being picked up, and reaching his destination, demonstrating the full integration of the platform’s service chain—from ride-hailing and autonomous dispatch to passenger transport and journey completion.
The announcement was made during XPENG’s initial company-wide Robotaxi business meeting, where He Xiaopeng emphasized the pivotal role of autonomous mobility in the company’s future growth strategy.
“Robotaxi represents an important step in XPENG’s expansion from smart electric vehicles to robotic vehicles,” said He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPENG. “Over the next decade, Physical AI will increasingly evolve into robots. For XPENG, Robotaxi is not simply a new business, but one of the most important milestones in unlocking the real potential of Physical AI.”
From Intelligent EVs to Autonomous Robotic Platforms
XPENG envisions a future where vehicles evolve from driver-assistance systems to fully autonomous robotic platforms. These advanced vehicles will be capable of perception, reasoning, and decision-making, driven by the company’s proprietary Turing AI chip, VLA2.0 AI model, and unique infrastructure. The Robotaxi initiative represents one of XPENG’s most sophisticated applications of Physical AI, combining intelligent vehicle technology with autonomous driving and embodied AI.
Strategizing for Global Expansion
During the meeting, He Xiaopeng detailed the long-term strategy for XPENG’s Robotaxi project. Instead of operating its own ride-hailing services, the company plans to act as a technology provider and ecosystem facilitator. This involves supplying the necessary software, hardware, and AI capabilities for autonomous mobility, while collaborating with local partners to deliver on-ground services.
XPENG’s Robotaxi platform is designed to be rapidly deployable across various cities and markets. It leverages technology foundations from its L2 intelligent driving and L4 autonomous driving systems, avoiding reliance on LIDAR-heavy architectures or high-definition maps.
“The second-generation VLA model’s ability to generalise across different environments significantly reduces the cost and complexity of deployment,” said Candice Yuan, Head of XPENG Robotaxi.
The company aims to complete trial operations and establish regular demonstration services within 2026, using Guangzhou as a prototype city for global replication. Potential partnerships for Robotaxi services are being explored across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
About XPENG
Founded in 2014, XPENG is an AI-driven mobility company focused on designing, developing, and marketing Smart EVs for tech-savvy consumers. With advancements in AI, XPENG aims to become a global leader in AI mobility, driving the Smart EV revolution with pioneering technology. The company develops its advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and intelligent in-car operating systems in-house, along with core vehicle systems like the powertrain and electrical/electronic architecture (EEA). Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG also operates in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and Amsterdam, with manufacturing facilities in Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province. XPENG is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: XPEV) and the Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX: 9868).
Contacts:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.xpeng.com/
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