The company’s GX robotaxi will be offered with three seating configurations. Xpeng relies on a vision-only system like Tesla, rather than using LiDAR. The tech firm has permits to test Level 4 autonomous systems in China. Xpeng is the latest Chinese car manufacturer to dive headfirst into the world of robotaxis, unveiling a specifically equipped version of the GX and quickly starting production. Unlike companies like Tesla, Rimac, and Geely that have designed bespoke robotaxis from the ground up, Xpeng’s model is essentially just a specially equipped version of the GX it sells to the public. Using the GX as the basis for its robotaxi will significantly help the car manufacturer cut development and production costs. Read: 200 Robotaxis Stopped In Traffic, Now China Has Stopped Issuing Permits Xpeng hasn’t said whether its self-driving GX has the range-extender powertrain of the consumer model or instead the same all-electric powertrain. What we do know is that it’s powered by four in-house Turing AI chips with 3,000 TOPS of on-board computing power. It also includes steer-by-wire. The SUV has been developed exclusively in-house and offers Level 4 self-driving capabilities. As of January, Xpeng has been testing its L4 vehicles on public roads across China and plans to launch pilot operations for its robotaxi service in the second half of this year. Humans Still Play An Important Role Just like the robotaxis being tested by Tesla, Xpeng’s models will initially have a human supervisor behind the wheel in case anything unexpected happens. However, the Chinese firm plans to ditch these “safety officers” by early 2027. The Xpeng GX robotaxi also differs from most others being tested in China in that it relies on a vision-only system, also like Tesla. This means there’s no LiDAR or high-definition maps, instead relying on cameras and an advanced AI model. While we haven’t been able to find any images of the robotaxi’s interior, it apparently includes privacy glass, rear entertainment screens, plush new seats, and will be produced in five-, six-, and seven-seat configurations.
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