China’s Xpeng to launch robotaxis, humanoid robots with own AI chips

Guangzhou, CHINA — Chinese language electrical automotive firm Xpeng plans to launch robotaxis subsequent 12 months after beforehand claiming it would not be an actual enterprise within the close to future and took the wraps off of its newest humanoid robotic mannequin.

Xpeng’s expertise push mirrors certainly one of its key rivals Tesla, because the Guangzhou, China-headquartered firm appears to place itself as extra than simply an electrical automotive agency.

The automaker introduced on Wednesday as a part of its “AI Day” that it’s launching three robotaxi fashions. The automobiles will use 4 of Xpeng’s self-developed “Turing” AI chips. Xpeng claims the chips symbolize the mixed highest in-car computing energy on this planet, at 3,000 TOPS, an trade measure.

The semiconductors energy Xpeng’s “vision-language-action (VLA)” mannequin, now in its second iteration. One of these AI fashions bear in mind inputs like visible cues that may assist with functions like driverless vehicles or robotics.

Alibaba introduced Wednesday that it’s partnering with Xpeng on robotaxis by way of the e-commerce firm’s digital mapping subsidiary AutoNavi and Amaps app, which additionally features a ride-hailing portal.

The Xpeng robotaxi consists of an exterior show of pace and different info on the automobile’s solar visors.

Xpeng mentioned it plans to begin testing robotaxis in Guangzhou and different Chinese language cities subsequent 12 months.

Co-president Brian Gu informed CNBC final week that robotaxis will “in the end be a worldwide phenomenon” however that it will take time to get there, particularly given regulation. Again in April 2024, he cautioned that self-driving taxis would not turn into a major enterprise for at the least 5 years.

Throughout a gaggle interview with reporters on Wednesday, Gu addressed his change in tone from final 12 months towards robotaxis.

“The tech is occurring sooner than we anticipated,” Gu mentioned.

He famous that the AI developments and the numerous enhance in computing energy “give us the arrogance we’re close to the inflection level” for robotaxis.

Xpeng’s technique for robotaxis is to make two classes of vehicles: one for industrial self-driving shared automobiles, and one other for totally autonomous private vehicles that could be solely shared amongst relations.

Xpeng’s robotaxi bulletins come as Chinese language gamers akin to Pony.ai, WeRide and Baidu have ramped up international enlargement plans after rolling out self-driving taxis to the general public in elements of China. Tesla this 12 months launched its long-awaited robotaxi program in elements of Texas.

Much like Tesla’s push into humanoid robots, Xpeng on Wednesday introduced its personal model, the second-generation Iron robotic. The Chinese language firm plans to start mass manufacturing of the robots subsequent 12 months.

Throughout a presentation on Wednesday, CEO He Xiaopeng downplayed the probability that the humanoids will quickly be usable in households, and mentioned it was too pricey to make use of them in factories given the low value of labor in China. As an alternative, he mentioned the robots will first be used as tour guides, gross sales assistants and workplace constructing guides, starting in Xpeng services.

He mentioned that he would not know what number of robots Xpeng will promote within the subsequent 10 years, however it is going to be greater than the variety of vehicles.

The humanoid robotic makes use of three of Xpeng’s Turing AI chips and a solid-state battery, with plans for personalisation choices for elements of the product like physique form and hair type.

Xpeng Co-President Gu mentioned on Wednesday that the corporate has been growing some expertise earlier than Tesla however has not been as vocal in selling it.

“What we’re pursuing from a tech and product perspective, there are some similarities with Tesla…There are some areas that we in all probability began sooner than Tesla,” Gu mentioned, referring to flying vehicles and humanoid robots.

Xpeng has developed a flying automotive product.

However Gu acknowledged that Tesla has achieved a greater and extra high-profile job at sharing its commercialization plans, which Xpeng has not achieved as a lot till right now.