XPeng approved to run Level 4 robotaxis across Guangzhou

XPeng has been approved to run Level 4 robotaxi demonstration operations across Guangzhou, the Chinese city where it is based.

The approval moves its robotaxi programme from technology testing into operating a passenger service, covering order handling, vehicle dispatch, pick-ups and dealing with problems on the road. Access will open gradually through invitation codes at first.

Guangzhou is XPeng’s research and production base and the first city where its robotaxis will run commercially.

The robotaxis use four of XPeng’s own Turing AI chips, with a combined 3,000 TOPS of computing power, and its VLA 2.0 model. XPeng says reusing the model and software from its road cars means the robotaxi needs less customisation for different road environments.

XPeng named its robotaxi brand XPeng YOYO earlier this month and opened registrations for the service to the public in China.

Chairman and chief executive He Xiaopeng has said XPeng will act as a technology provider rather than run large fleets itself. It plans to supply vehicles, software and AI to partners, earning money from hardware sales, technology services and a share of fares. XPeng says it is in advanced talks with several European mobility platforms about deploying its robotaxis there.

Tesla’s Cybercab robotaxi service began operating in Austin, Texas, in September.