By Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng said on Monday it had started mass production of its first robotaxi at its Guangzhou headquarters, as the company accelerates efforts to expand its autonomous driving business amid rising competition in China’s electric vehicle market.
The company said the robotaxi is built on its GX platform and is China’s first production-ready, pre-assembled robotaxi model developed entirely with in-house technologies.
The development marks a significant step in XPeng’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in autonomous driving, driverless mobility, and robotics technologies.
XPeng targets fully driverless operations by 2027
XPeng said it is aiming to begin fully driverless robotaxi operations by early 2027.
The company plans to launch pilot robotaxi operations during the second half of this year as it prepares for wider deployment in the coming years.
The move comes as Chinese electric vehicle makers continue to invest heavily in autonomous driving technologies to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
XPeng, often viewed as a rival to Tesla, has increasingly shifted focus beyond conventional electric vehicles into advanced mobility technologies, including autonomous transport systems, humanoid robotics, and flying vehicle concepts.
Last month, XPeng President Brian Gu told that the company would likely produce hundreds to thousands of robotaxis over the next 12 to 18 months.
The company’s latest production milestone indicates that XPeng is moving from development and testing phases toward scaled commercial deployment.
Company expands AI and autonomous driving ecosystem
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Guangzhou, XPeng has positioned itself as a smart electric vehicle manufacturer focused on artificial intelligence-driven mobility systems.
The company is widely recognised for integrating advanced autonomous driving software and AI-powered smart cockpit technologies into its vehicles.
XPeng’s vehicles run high-level AI models, including VLA 2.0, which are designed to handle complex road conditions such as heavy traffic, roundabouts, and highway ramps without human intervention.
Beyond passenger electric vehicles, the company is also investing in humanoid robotics and road-capable flying car technologies as part of its broader smart mobility ecosystem.
The robotaxi initiative is considered a key part of that long-term strategy.
XPeng broadens product lineup and international reach
XPeng currently offers a range of smart electric vehicles across multiple segments.
Its lineup includes the flagship P7 sedan, the G9 SUV, the X9 MPV, and the budget-focused Mona M03.
While the company initially focused on China’s domestic market, it has expanded internationally in recent years.
XPeng now sells vehicles in Europe and Australia and is also exploring expansion into emerging markets, including India.
The company is publicly traded on both the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker XPEV and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the ticker 9868.
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