Chinese mobility company XPeng showcases autonomous driving tech in latest event

AI-driven innovation takes center stage at XPeng’s Tech Day: Chinese mobility company XPeng showcased a range of cutting-edge technologies at its annual event, now rebranded as “AI Day” to reflect the central role of artificial intelligence in its future plans.

• XPeng unveiled the Turing AI Intelligent Driving System, powered by its proprietary Turing AI chip, designed for vehicles, robots, and flying cars.
• The Turing chip features a 40-core processor and supports models with up to 30 billion parameters, delivering the power of three high-performance chips in one.
• XPeng’s new Canghai Platform, built on the Turing AI system, aims to enable full Level 4 autonomous driving and support robotaxis by 2025.

Advancements in aerial mobility and robotics: XPeng’s subsidiary AeroHT provided updates on its flying car projects and introduced a new humanoid robot.

• The “Land Aircraft Carrier,” a modular eVTOL/vehicle combo, is scheduled for scaled production in 2026, with a public flight demonstration planned for later this month and pre-orders opening in December.
• AeroHT is developing a dedicated full tilt-rotor eVTOL with six seats and hybrid power, boasting a range of over 500 km and a top speed of 360 km/h.
• XPeng debuted “Iron,” an advanced humanoid robot powered by the Turing AI chip, capable of human-like thinking, memory, and autonomous movement.

Surprising shift in powertrain strategy: XPeng introduced a gas-powered range extender system, marking a departure from its all-electric focus.

• The Kunpeng Super Electric System combines an 800V platform with XPeng’s battery technology and a hybrid silicon carbide coaxial electric drive.
• This system offers 430 km of all-electric range and a combined range of over 1,400 km when using the range extender.
• AI-powered optimization enables seamless transition between pure electric and range-extended driving modes.

Enhanced charging capabilities: XPeng’s new electric system boasts impressive charging speeds and efficiency.

• The 800V platform supports 5C fast charging, allowing a charge from 10% to 80% in just 12 minutes.
• The range extender is designed for quiet operation, with noise levels as low as 1 dB.

Implications for the automotive industry: XPeng’s Tech Day revelations underscore the company’s commitment to diverse mobility solutions and AI integration.

• The focus on AI-driven technologies across various platforms positions XPeng as a potential leader in autonomous driving and smart mobility.
• The introduction of a range extender system suggests a pragmatic approach to addressing range anxiety concerns while maintaining a strong focus on electrification.
• XPeng’s advancements in aerial mobility and robotics demonstrate its ambition to expand beyond traditional automotive manufacturing into broader transportation and automation sectors.