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

Guangzhou, CHINA — Chinese language electrical automobile firm Xpeng plans to launch robotaxis subsequent yr 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 one among its key rivals Tesla, because the Guangzhou, China-headquartered firm seems to place itself as extra than simply an electrical automobile 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 characterize the mixed highest in-car computing energy on the planet, at 3,000 TOPS, an trade measure.

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

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

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

Xpeng stated it plans to start out testing robotaxis in Guangzhou and different Chinese language cities subsequent yr.

Co-president Brian Gu instructed CNBC final week that robotaxis will “in the end be a world 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 not less than 5 years.

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

“The tech is going on sooner than we anticipated,” Gu stated.

He famous that the AI developments and the numerous improve 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 which may be solely shared amongst members of the family.

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

Just 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 yr.

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

He stated 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 points of the product like physique form and hair type.

Xpeng Co-President Gu stated on Wednesday that the corporate has been creating 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 most likely began sooner than Tesla,” Gu stated, referring to flying vehicles and humanoid robots.

Xpeng has developed a flying automobile product.

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