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Chinese EV maker Xpeng passes autonomous driving test as it races rivals to launch robotaxi services
- The company’s latest model, the G9 sport-utility vehicle (SUV), recently passed a closed-field autonomous-driving test
- Xpeng expects to debut its robotaxi business in Guangzhou next year and expand to other cities over the next two years
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Daniel Renin Shanghai
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng Motors has taken a step forward in its plan to launch an autonomous taxi business, after its latest model, the G9 sport-utility vehicle (SUV), recently passed a closed-field autonomous-driving test.
The Guangzhou-based carmaker, one of Tesla’s rivals in China, expects to debut its robotaxi business in Guangzhou next year and expand to other cities over the next two years, Wu Xinzhou, Xpeng’s vice-president of autonomous driving, said on Monday.
The G9 model will help the company scale its services quickly because the car comes with Xpeng’s XNGP autonomous driving technology straight from the factory, giving Xpeng an edge over competitors that must retrofit conventional vehicles, according to the company.
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He Xiaopeng, co-founder and chief executive of Xpeng, said at the company’s Tech Day online briefing that the autonomous taxis will feature a voice assistant powered by AI, as well as a 3D user interface.
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Automated taxis now allowed on the road in Shenzhen
Automated taxis now allowed on the road in Shenzhen
“Robotaxi is an initial step carmakers can take to commercialise autonomous vehicles,” said Yin Ran, an angel investor in Shanghai.
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“Autonomous taxis will be seen in dozens of Chinese cities in the next one or two years as companies like Xpeng rev up expansion of the business.”
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