INTENSE COMPETITION
Xpeng’s robotaxi push comes amid intense competition in China’s EV sector.
“The Chinese automotive market is the most competitive in the world because of the sheer number of players,” Gu said.
He added that companies hoping to emerge from that competition would increasingly need capabilities beyond making cars, including in artificial intelligence, manufacturing, supply chains and overseas operations.
“Today, to be successful, you cannot just be an automotive company. (You) have to develop a full stack approach. You have to be an AI company, a global company,” he said.
Xpeng has been expanding beyond electric cars into areas including robots and flying vehicles, as it seeks to position itself as what it calls a “physical AI” company.
Gu said the technology developed for its vehicles, including its own AI models and chips, could also be applied to other machines.
HUMANOID ROBOTS
Among them is Iron, Xpeng’s humanoid robot, which the company is preparing to produce in larger quantities from early next year.