When Volkswagen turned to EV maker Xpeng in 2023 to help fix its flailing Chinese business, executives touted the partnership as a shortcut to developing cars tailored for China at the high speed of the local auto sector.
Three years later, the alliance’s first product exemplifies Volkswagen’s descent in the world’s largest car market. The ID. UNYX 08 electric SUV sold an average of 267 vehicles a month between its April launch and August, data from automotive consultancy ThinkerCar show. That’s a fraction of the 3,622 monthly sales Volkswagen initially aimed to achieve this year, according to company planning documents.
The weak debut reflects Volkswagen’s battle to revive its fortunes in China, where it reigned for decades until 2022 as the top automaker. China represents the challenge at the heart of Volkswagen’s global crisis: A market that once contributed nearly 50% of group profits now accounts for about 10%. That stunning reversal has forced the company into the biggest restructuring in its 89-year history.
The UNYX 08 also highlights a persistent problem in Volkswagen's China strategy. Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) recognized the market’s shift toward higher-end technology and sought local partners to catch up. Yet the German automaker struggled to turn those bets into commercial success.
This report is based on a Reuters review of previously unreported company documents and interviews with six people familiar with Volkswagen, including current and former executives and consultants. It shows the automaker's ambitions ran ahead of what its products, pricing and sales strategy could deliver.
Volkswagen sold the UNYX 08 through a nascent and limited distribution network. The vehicle also struggled against newer, software-laden Chinese electric SUVs.
Volkswagen didn’t comment on the sales forecasts in the documents. In a statement, the automaker said its partnership with Xpeng has delivered a new electric architecture to underpin locally made models and support faster vehicle development – a project it said was completed in a record 18 months. The UNYX 08 SUV and the related UNYX 09 sedan were additional outcomes of the tie-up, the company added.
Xpeng (9868.HK) declined to comment.
Problems with the UNYX 08 began with the vehicle itself. The car launched with a price tag of about $34,260. But similarly priced Chinese rivals offered more-sophisticated features. Xiaomi’s YU7 had an advanced sensor package; Zeekr's 7X offered fast charging. Xiaomi sold almost 57,000 YU7s and Zeekr sold more than 21,000 7Xs between April and August, compared with about 1,300 UNYX 08s, according to ThinkerCar.
"Chinese customers ask: Why buy an expensive German car if they can get the technology much cheaper,” said Pedro Pacheco, vice president of research at Gartner.
Stephen Reitman, an auto analyst at Bernstein, recalled that Volkswagen showed analysts computer renderings of the Xpeng-linked models in April 2024. "The next day we went to the Beijing auto show and you could basically see this kind of design already on the market," Reitman said.
A distribution gamble compounded the product’s challenges, five people told Reuters. Volkswagen largely sold the UNYX 08 through a separate, new dealer network run by Volkswagen Anhui, an EV-focused venture, rather than the more than 3,000 dealerships Volkswagen operated with joint-venture partners FAW and SAIC (600104.SS).
Volkswagen Anhui’s far-smaller footprint meant many consumers were unaware the vehicle existed, two of the people said.
Volkswagen said sales of the Anhui models, including the earlier UNYX 06 and 07, were growing. The unit had expanded its sales network to 166 outlets and was working with FAW-Volkswagen at selected dealerships, the company said, adding that this approach aimed to reach more customers.
FAW and SAIC didn’t respond to questions.
For Volkswagen, the Xpeng partnership follows a string of troubled ventures, missed opportunities and abandoned initiatives in China that spanned batteries, autonomous driving, charging infrastructure, software and even flying cars.
Volkswagen was “too slow in building the competence they need today,” said Stefan Bratzel, founder and director of the Center of Automotive Management, a German research institute.
The dilemma faces nearly every foreign automaker in China. Having fallen behind in software, batteries and vehicle platforms, foreign brands have turned to Chinese partners to stay in the game. Yet access to Chinese technology doesn’t guarantee they can match local rivals’ speed, execution or appeal with consumers.
Chinese brands led by BYD and Geely have gained share by bringing software-rich vehicles to market faster and often at lower prices, forcing once-dominant rivals including Volkswagen and Toyota to fight for relevance.
ANOTHER BIG BET
Despite the UNYX 08’s weak reception, Volkswagen is setting similarly aggressive targets for its next model developed with Xpeng, the UNYX 09 sedan. The car is due to reach showrooms this month.
Company product-planning documents earlier this year forecast average monthly sales of nearly 4,900 vehicles, with annual volume exceeding 90,000 by 2034.
At Volkswagen, ambitious forecasts can be essential to securing approval for new models from Wolfsburg headquarters, which can incentivize managers to submit optimistic projections, according to two people familiar with its planning.
Volkswagen initially expected to sell 32,600 UNYX 08s through the end of 2026 and 70,400 next year, the planning documents show. Those plans, made in 2024, show the automaker also expected annual sales of more than 120,000 vehicles later in the product cycle.
But early this year, Volkswagen cut the 2026 projection by more than 60% to 12,300 vehicles, the documents show. It nevertheless forecast sales of 64,000 in 2027, about 10% below the initial target.
In recent weeks, the company has been advertising the UNYX 08 at a 17% discount on the April launch price.
‘MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE’
Volkswagen saw the Chinese disruption coming. At a 2019 presentation for investors and shareholders, Volkswagen Group China said it was preparing nearly 40 locally produced new-energy vehicle models — EVs and plug-in hybrids — by 2025 and could deliver 1.5 million in China that year.
It achieved less than one-tenth of that target, delivering 115,500 battery-electric vehicles in China last year, according to company data.
As China's EV market accelerated, Volkswagen explored various local tie-ups, hoping to unlock the speed and expertise it lacked, according to three people, corporate records and public announcements.
Two people familiar with Volkswagen's China partnerships said the company called this approach "marriage and divorce" – forming alliances with local companies to learn from them, then exiting once it had absorbed what it needed.
Around the time Ralf Brandstaetter became Volkswagen China's chief executive in August 2022, the automaker explored cooperation with BYD – China’s largest EV maker – including potentially using BYD's Dolphin platform for the Jetta brand, according to two people. Those efforts haven’t been previously reported.
During due diligence, Volkswagen staff examining BYD's finances were struck by the Chinese automaker's lower manufacturing costs, one of the people said. BYD (002594.SZ) wasn’t interested in collaborating, the two sources said. Reuters couldn’t establish why a deal didn’t happen.
The Chinese EV maker would seize Volkswagen’s crown as China’s sales leader in 2023.
That same year, Volkswagen also explored a partnership with Leapmotor (9863.HK), according to the two people. Stellantis (STLAM.MI) ultimately struck a deal with Leapmotor later that year.
Volkswagen’s statement didn’t address the BYD and Leapmotor talks. BYD didn’t comment, while Leapmotor didn’t respond to questions.
Some partnerships that did materialize generated new problems rather than solving old ones. Reuters reported in July that Volkswagen's canceled flying-car project had become mired in legal disputes with a Chinese partner.
A venture with Chinese startup Du-Power to build fast-charging stations also went awry. The tie-up, launched in 2020, ended in shareholder disputes, litigation and supplier complaints alleging unpaid bills, corporate filings show. In 2024, the startup sued Volkswagen China and the venture’s executives and directors, alleging harm to its business interests.
Volkswagen told Reuters that China’s Supreme People’s Court dismissed the startup’s claims in March. Neither Du-Power nor the court responded to questions.
‘EXCEPTIONAL’ CONTRACTION
In some ways, Volkswagen’s predicament illustrates the success of China's industrial policy. In exchange for market access, Volkswagen tied up with Chinese automakers, shared technology and invested — only to be outsold by local players.
Those checkered bets are now colliding with a market in convulsion after years of breakneck growth.
In a September 10 message to staff reviewed by Reuters, Brandstaetter described an industry facing an "exceptional" contraction. He said Volkswagen expected China’s passenger-car market to shrink by 20% this year, or about 4.5 million vehicles.
Brandstaetter said industry profit margins had fallen to 1.5%, product cycles had compressed from seven years to three, and new EV models were seeing steep sales declines after three months.
Volkswagen, he wrote, must urgently "align our production capacities with market realities" and eliminate "unnecessary duplication" among China brands and entities — a reckoning with a crisis years in the making.
In 2019, one in five passenger cars sold in China was a Volkswagen. In the first eight months of this year, the group’s share had fallen to 10%, according to the China Passenger Car Association.
What distinguishes Volkswagen’s plight is its deep dependence on China and its struggle to execute a decisive transformation in a market now dominated by Chinese companies. That made its Xpeng bet pivotal.
One former Volkswagen figure compared its predicament to that faced by Nokia, Kodak and BlackBerry: The automaker’s leadership assumed its brands would endure, even as the market shifted toward Chinese competitors with superior technology and faster innovation cycles.
Bill Russo, founder of Shanghai-based advisory firm Automobility, sees the comparison as a useful warning but not yet a verdict. Volkswagen still has a path to recovery, he said.
The risk, he added, “is that the market moves faster than the company can reinvent itself.”
XPENG expands its collaboration with Google to offer Google Play directly inside of its AI-Powered cockpit. Google Play combines hundreds of third-party apps across 100+ countries and regions with XPENG's intelligent capabilities for a richer, more localized in-car experience. The integration is scheduled to go live in early 2027. RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE, /PRNewswire/ -- XPENG (NYSE: XPEV, HKEX: 9868), a leading Physical AI company, today announced a native integration with Google Play, marking an expansion of its strategic collaboration with Google.
XPENG will offer Google Play within its cars. This direct integration allows XPENG to offer its signature AI-Powered cockpit experience while giving users seamless, phone-optional access to a breadth of automotive-optimized apps available through Google Play. The integration is scheduled to go live in early 2027.
Through Google Play, XPENG users will have access to a thriving global ecosystem, with hundreds of apps from more than 100 countries built for the car screen across music and podcasts, video streaming, navigation, charging and parking, news, gaming while parked, and everyday lifestyle services. Whether relaxing at a charging stop or on the move, drivers can enjoy global services, alongside apps tailored to individual markets.
And because developers continuously publish new apps and updates through Google Play, the in-car experience will continually evolve without requiring major full-vehicle OTA updates.
Built on Android™ Automotive OS, the integration works seamlessly alongside XPENG's intelligent cockpit capabilities, enabling drivers and passengers to use XPENG's multilingual AI-powered voice assistant to open and interact with downloaded apps.
Dr. Xianming Liu, Vice President of XPENG and Head of General Intelligence Center, said, "The best technology partnerships build momentum. Our work with Google Maps demonstrated what our two companies can achieve together to integrate global technologies into a distinctive intelligent vehicle experience. That success created the foundation for deeper collaboration. With Google Play, we are extending that approach from navigation to the wider digital ecosystem, giving our customers an experience that can continue to grow wherever XPENG goes."
Haris Ramic, Android for Cars Product Director at Google, said: "Thanks to a thriving developer community, our in-car app ecosystem continues to grow rapidly. Bringing Google Play to XPENG vehicles gives drivers even more choice to enjoy the entertainment and everyday apps they love right from their dashboard, with no phone required."
Looking ahead, the two companies will continue exploring further collaborations to enable apps to do even more in the car, making digital services an even more natural part of XPENG's driver and passenger experience.
The announcement represents the latest milestone in the collaboration between XPENG and Google. It follows XPENG's successful integration of Google Maps' Auto SDK, announced in July 2026, which introduced a refreshed navigation experience for XPENG drivers and provided foundational map capabilities for the company's advanced driver-assistance systems in overseas markets.
Further details on participating vehicle models, markets, and app availability, which may vary by vehicle model and applicable safety requirements, will be announced in due course.
Google, Android, Google Play, Google Maps, YouTube and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
About XPENG
XPENG is a leading global Physical AI company, dedicated to bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world to reshape future mobility and smart living. Through in-house R&D, XPENG has developed a full-stack Physical AI architecture spanning Turing AI chips, world foundation models, and highly integrated software and hardware applications. This unified technology foundation of XPENG powers an expansive product portfolio of smart EVs, robotaxis, and humanoid robots, advancing the deployment of Physical AI at scale.
Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG is dual-primary listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. With global capabilities across R&D, manufacturing, sales, and services, XPENG drives continuous technological innovation and fosters an open Physical AI ecosystem, making life smarter, safer, and better for users worldwide. For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.
Mr. He Xiaopeng, Chairman & CEO, becomes the first Chinese automotive CEO to deliver a keynote in the history of the Paris Automotive Summit, calling for greater industry collaboration as AI, electrification and globalization reshapes the automotive sector.
Mr. He Xiaopeng introduced XPENG AI Engineering, calling for open collaboration and opening XPENG's full-stack technologies and engineering capabilities to global partners, from vehicle platforms to Physical AI.
XPENG highlighted NGP which is aiming for global market expansion in 2027, alongside clear milestones for its humanoid robot, IRON, targeting mass production in late 2026, initial deliveries in H1 2027, and a European rollout in H2 2027.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Mr. He Xiaopeng, Chairman & CEO of XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or the "Company,"NYSE: XPEV; HKEX: 9868), a leading global Physical AI company, today called for deeper collaboration across the global automotive industry, as he became the first Chinese automotive CEO to deliver a keynote in the history of the Paris Automotive Summit.
Speaking to automotive industry leaders in Paris, Mr. He outlined how AI, electrification and smart technologies are reshaping the automotive industry, creating new opportunities for technology collaboration across the sector.
The theme of his keynote speech was "Navigating the AI Era: Open Collaboration for a Smarter Future," where he outlined XPENG AI Engineering, XPENG's strategy to combine its Physical AI technology with deeper ecosystem partnerships across Europe and globally.
He emphasized that no single manufacturer holds all the advantages required for the next generation of smart mobility. To accelerate this transition, XPENG is opening its in-house tech stack and engineering resources to key international partners.
Open Technology Collaboration for the AI Era: XPENG AI Engineering
XPENG's approach to collaboration is rooted in its evolution as a Physical AI company, with full-stack technologies spanning chips, models and applications across intelligent vehicles, robotaxis, humanoid robots and flying cars. In intelligent driving, XPENG highlighted NGP powered by VLA 2.0, designed to advance directly from L2 to L4 and deliver the same core capability across China and Europe, as the company prepares to bring advanced intelligent driving to global markets in 2027.
XPENG is also advancing the commercialization of its humanoid robot, IRON, with mass production targeted for late 2026, deliveries beginning in the first half of 2027, and a European rollout planned for the second half of 2027.
As AI expands into the physical world, XPENG believes industry transformation will be driven both from within and beyond automotive. To usher in this new era, XPENG is opening its proprietary technologies and engineering toolchains to global partners - spanning vehicle platforms, E/E architecture, batteries, e-drives, and modular innovations like the AI BOX, Turing AI chip, and Turing physical world foundation model.
Through XPENG AI Engineering, the company is pursuing a model built around complementary strengths, flexible collaboration and independent innovation, enabling partners to co-develop differentiated products while building their own technology capabilities over time.
As a proven example of this mutually beneficial approach, Mr. He highlighted XPENG's strategic collaboration with Volkswagen Group, which brings together XPENG's intelligent-driving and software capabilities with Volkswagen's vehicle engineering and testing expertise.
This latest development builds on XPENG's continued investment in technology and talent. In the first half of 2026, XPENG invested approximately €770 million in R&D.
"Partnership starts with trust, and after trust comes openness," said Mr. He. "We welcome global partners to work with us, learn from each other and bring our strengths together. To bring technology to life and build the future together."
In Europe, For Europe, With Europe
Mr. He also reinforced XPENG's long-term "In Europe, For Europe, With Europe" commitment, centered on producing in Europe, designing for European users and partnering with the region's industrial ecosystem.
XPENG has put four models into production in Europe within one year, including the G6, G9, P7+ and the latest G9L. Its European R&D center serves as a hub for EU homologation and certification, language and interaction localization, intelligent-driving validation, European chassis and handling tuning, and charging-network integration.
XPENG continues to deepen collaboration across Europe's automotive and technology ecosystem, working with local partners as it expands its capabilities in the region.
ENDS
About XPENG
XPENG is a leading global Physical AI company, dedicated to bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world to reshape future mobility and smart living. Through in-house R&D, XPENG has developed a full-stack Physical AI architecture spanning Turing AI chips, world foundation models, and highly integrated software and hardware applications. This unified technology foundation powers an expansive product portfolio of smart EVs, robotaxis and humanoid robots, advancing the deployment of Physical AI at scale.
Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG is dual-primary listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. With global capabilities across R&D, manufacturing, sales and services, XPENG drives continuous technological innovation and fosters an open Physical AI ecosystem, making life smarter, safer and better for users worldwide.
For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.
- XPENG officially launches the G9L Next-Gen AI Flagship SUV for Europe, with French pricing starting from [€74,990].
- XPENG NGP powered by VLA 2.0 makes its first large-scale test-ride appearance in Europe. At the Paris Motor Show, NGP is also being showcased in the official Autonomous Lab, which is open to public experience, with XPENG being one of only two participating automakers, alongside Tesla.
- XPENG introduces its AI and vehicle engineering technology solutions overseas for the first time, opening new opportunities for technical collaboration with global automotive and tech partners.
, /PRNewswire/ -- XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or the "Company,"NYSE: XPEV; HKEX: 9868), a leading global Physical AI company, today launched the G9L Next-Gen AI Flagship SUV for Europe at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, alongside the first global public test ride campaign of XPENG Next Generation Pilot (NGP) powered by VLA 2.0, as well as announcing new technology collaboration opportunities for global automotive partners.
Across its flagship XPENG Paris Night event and the Paris Motor Show, the company showcased three areas at the center of its next phase of global growth - bringing its latest-generation flagship G9L to European users, introducing NGP to European roads, and opening more of its AI and vehicle engineering capabilities to global automotive partners.
Together, these developments advance XPENG's "In Europe, For Europe, With Europe" approach, combining global technology with European R&D, local production and deeper collaboration with partners.
XPENG Paris Motor Show Press Kit:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1I8SLTqDREdDCzeY5YUu8LjLe7jlPI6e2
G9L: XPENG's Next-Gen AI Flagship SUV
Taking center stage in Paris, the G9L brings together intelligent driving, advanced safety, flagship comfort and long-distance capability. Designed around different lifestyles and journeys, from business and family travel to outdoor adventures, the G9L will be priced from [€74,990].
Built around the principle that safety is the ultimate premium, the G9L combines active prevention, passive protection and system redundancy, including nine airbags as standard, automatic emergency braking at speeds of up to 150 km/h and stability support following a tire blowout. It has undergone three years of testing across 26 countries and regions, covering more than 6.74 million kilometers.
Beyond safety, the G9L combines a sophisticated chassis with two seating layouts: 6‑seater and 7‑seater, plus luxury AI-Adaptive Front Seaters. EV variants offer up to 591 km of WLTP range, while its 800V architecture and 5C charging technology enable 10% to 80% charging in as little as 11.7 minutes. Following its successful production trial at Magna in Graz, the G9L is also set to become the fourth XPENG model manufactured in Europe.
XPENG NGP Comes to European Roads
XPENG also introduces XPENG NGP powered by VLA 2.0, supported proprietary Turing AI chips, 4D spatiotemporal understanding and strong generalization across different roads and unfamiliar scenarios. VLA 2.0 can retain up to 30 seconds of contextual information and predict how a scenario may unfold up to six seconds ahead, helping NGP understand, anticipate and respond to changing road conditions. The technology has been tested against complex European driving conditions.
In Paris, NGP is making its first large-scale test-ride appearance in Europe, demonstrating its capabilities across roundabouts, narrow streets, motorcycle traffic, pedestrian crossings and complex right-of-way situations. At the Paris Motor Show, NGP is also being showcased in the official Autonomous Lab, with XPENG one of only two participating automakers.
The test rides demonstrate NGP in European road scenarios including Paris roundabouts, narrow streets, motorcycle traffic, pedestrian crossings and complex right-of-way situations.
XPENG also aims to become the first certified automaker in the world to meet UNECE UN Regulation No. 171, Series 02, supporting the global expansion of its advanced driving software.
Bringing Physical AI to Life in Paris
The three announcements form part of XPENG's broader Physical AI vision on display at the Paris Motor Show, where the company has transformed its 1,008-square-meter stand in Hall 6, Stand A51 into a "Physical AI Museum," bringing together intelligent vehicles, humanoid robots, flying mobility and the underlying technologies that connect them.
The Press Day display brings together 11 vehicles, including the G9L, L03, P7+, G6, G9 and X9, alongside one Land Aircraft Carrier and two IRON humanoid robots. Dedicated technology areas showcase VLA 2.0 and the Turing AI Chip, as well as XPENG's latest developments in humanoid robots and flying mobility. IRON, XPENG's advanced general-purpose humanoid robot, is planned for global rollout in 2027.
In Europe, For Europe, With Europe
XPENG's Paris presence marks a further step in its "In Europe, For Europe, With Europe" approach. Globally, XPENG now operates across 82 countries and regions, supported by eight R&D centers, six manufacturing bases and 1,283 stores.
In Europe, XPENG combines an expanding product portfolio with deeper local R&D and production capabilities. Its European R&D center supports homologation, language interaction, chassis tuning, charging integration and intelligent-driving validation, while local production with Magna in Austria began in Q3 2025.
With the G9L joining its European portfolio and NGP powered by VLA 2.0 being validated against European driving scenarios, XPENG is bringing more of its global technology to Europe, developing it with European expertise and partners, and adapting it for European users.
ENDS
About XPENG
XPENG is a leading global Physical AI company, dedicated to bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world to reshape future mobility and smart living. Through in-house R&D, XPENG has developed a full-stack Physical AI architecture spanning Turing AI chips, world foundation models, and highly integrated software and hardware applications. This unified technology foundation powers an expansive product portfolio of smart EVs, robotaxis and humanoid robots, advancing the deployment of Physical AI at scale.
Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG is dual-primary listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. With global capabilities across R&D, manufacturing, sales and services, XPENG drives continuous technological innovation and fosters an open Physical AI ecosystem, making life smarter, safer and better for users worldwide.
For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/
XPeng Inc. (XPEV - Free Report) , a global Physical AI company, will showcase its latest developments in intelligent mobility, robotics and next-generation transportation at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. The company will use the event to globally debut its next-generation AI flagship SUV, the G9L, marking another milestone in its European expansion.
At its more than 1,000-square-meter exhibition space in Hall 6, XPENG will present an immersive “Physical AI Museum” divided into four sections covering its technology platform, AI-powered vehicles, humanoid robots and flying cars. The exhibition will highlight how the company is extending its technological capabilities beyond traditional automobiles. Its Car-as-a-Robot concept integrates vehicle and robotics technologies on a shared platform, while XPENG is working toward mass production of its IRON humanoid robot and developing flying cars and Robotaxi technology. Alongside the G9L, the company will display the L03, P7+, G6, G9 and X9, giving visitors an overview of its broader Physical AI ecosystem spanning intelligent vehicles, robotics and emerging mobility solutions.
The G9L will be the centerpiece of XPENG’s presence, with its global launch scheduled for Oct. 12, 2026. The next-generation AI flagship SUV combines the company’s latest developments in artificial intelligence, intelligent driving and vehicle technology with a premium SUV experience. It is designed to emphasize safety, driving performance and comfort across various driving scenarios. XPENG will also open European order books and reveal European pricing at the show, signaling the model’s move from its initial China launch toward a broader global rollout.
The G9L will become the fourth XPENG model to be manufactured in Europe as the company continues to expand its local production capabilities. The model reflects XPENG’s strategy of developing products for global markets while increasingly designing and manufacturing vehicles with European customers in mind.
In addition to unveiling the G9L, XPENG will demonstrate its NGP intelligent driving technology through its recently launched L03 SUV coupe. For XPENG, the event will represent its first large-scale NGP test-drive experience outside China and will give European customers and media an early opportunity to experience its latest intelligent-driving capabilities.
XPENG is also working to localize its intelligent-driving technology for European markets, supported by the generalization capabilities of its foundation model. The company continues to expand its European R&D operations to adapt its intelligent-driving systems to local road conditions, traffic patterns and regulatory requirements.
The company is further strengthening its European footprint by expanding its sales and service network and developing local capabilities, including through its European R&D center in Munich. XPENG has delivered more than 100,000 vehicles outside China, including more than 60,000 in Europe. In France, the company has delivered more than 6,000 vehicles since entering the market two years ago.
XPENG is also broadening its European product lineup. Following its global debut in Munich in July 2026, the L03 SUV coupe is preparing for its first deliveries to European customers. Through European intelligent-driving development, local manufacturing and products tailored to regional needs, XPENG is advancing its “In Europe, For Europe” strategy and bringing its global technology capabilities closer to European consumers.
The year 2026 marked another phase of XPENG’s international expansion, with overseas deliveries, retail locations and localized operations continuing to grow alongside the commercialization of its Physical AI technologies. In the second quarter, overseas deliveries exceeded 20,000 units for the first time, representing an 81% year-over-year increase. In August, XPENG’s robotics business raised more than $900 million in its first funding round, making it the largest single-round private financing in China’s embodied AI industry. In September, its advanced general-purpose IRON humanoid robot began production on a newly commissioned manufacturing line, representing an important step toward mass production.
At the show, XPENG will highlight its efforts to translate Physical AI from technological development into practical mobility applications while expanding these capabilities from China to international markets, with Europe becoming an increasingly important part of its global strategy.
XPeng currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the auto space are Mobileye Global Inc. (MBLY - Free Report) and Garrett Motion Inc. (GTX - Free Report) . While MBLY sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), GTX has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MBLY’s 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 5.6% and 36.1%, respectively. The EPS estimate for 2026 and 2027 has improved 3 cents each over the past 60 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GTX’s 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 7.2% and 25.7%, respectively. The EPS estimate for 2026 and 2027 has improved 5 cents and 4 cents, respectively, over the past 60 days.
XPENG na autosalonu v Paříži globálně představí SUV G9L a otevře evropské objednávky i ceny. Zároveň ukáže svou nabídku Physical AI včetně robotů a létajících aut.
XPENG will showcase its Physical AI ecosystem spanning its technology stack, humanoid robots, flying cars and AI-defined vehicles, including the G9L, L03, P7+, G6, G9 and X9. The G9L flagship SUV will make its global launch at the Paris Motor Show, with European order books open and pricing revealed, reinforcing XPENG's premium positioning globally. XPENG and Tesla will be the only automakers participating in the show's official Autonomous Lab, marking XPENG's first large-scale NGP test ride experience outside China. XPENG will present one of the largest stands among Chinese automakers, spanning more than 1,000 square meters in Hall 6 alongside European legacy brands and Chinese counterparts. The Paris Motor Show will showcase XPENG's "In Europe, For Europe" approach through European intelligent-driving development, local production and a growing regional product portfolio. , /PRNewswire/ -- XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or the "Company,"NYSE: XPEV; HKEX: 9868), a leading global Physical AI company, will make a major appearance at the 2026 Paris Motor Show from October 12 to 18, bringing its latest advances in intelligent mobility, robotics and future transportation to one of Europe's most prominent automotive stages. At the show, XPENG will make the global launch of its Next-Gen AI Flagship SUV, the G9L, marking another milestone in the company's expansion in Europe.
Advancing Physical AI into the Real World
XPENG
XPENG At its more than 1,000-square-meter stand in Hall 6, XPENG will create an immersive "Physical AI Museum" spanning four areas: brand technology stack, AI-defined vehicles, humanoid robots and flying cars.
The exhibition will demonstrate how XPENG is extending its technology foundation beyond the conventional automobile. Its Car-as-a-Robot concept brings vehicle and robotics technologies onto a common platform, while the company is also advancing the mass production of its IRON humanoid robot and developing flying cars and Robotaxi.
Together with the G9L, L03, P7+, G6, G9 and X9, these technologies will offer visitors a view of XPENG's broader Physical AI ecosystem — from intelligent vehicles and robots to future forms of mobility.
G9L: The Next Generation of AI-Defined Mobility
At the center of XPENG's presence will be the G9L, its Next-Gen AI Flagship SUV, making its global launch in Paris on October 12.
The G9L brings together XPENG's latest advances in AI, intelligent driving and vehicle technology with a premium SUV experience, with a focus on safety, driving and comfort across a range of scenarios. At the Paris Motor Show, XPENG will open European order books and announce European pricing, marking the model's transition from a China launch to a global market rollout.
The G9L will also become the fourth XPENG model produced in Europe, following the company's expansion of local manufacturing capabilities. It represents XPENG's approach to developing global products while increasingly building and producing for European users.
XPENG and Tesla to Take on the Official Autonomous Driving Experience
Beyond the vehicle premiere, XPENG will put its NGP intelligent driving technology directly to the test with its recently launched L03 SUV coupe as part of the Paris Motor Show's official Autonomous Lab program.
XPENG and Tesla will be the only two automakers taking part in the official experience, giving the public a first-hand opportunity to experience next-generation intelligent driving in real-world conditions. For XPENG, the event marks its first large-scale overseas NGP test ride experience, offering early access to its latest capabilities for European customers and media.
XPENG is also advancing the localization of intelligent driving technology for Europe, enabled by the strong generalization capabilities of its foundation model. The company's European R&D capabilities are being further developed to adapt intelligent driving to local roads, traffic environments and regulatory requirements.
In Europe, For Europe
XPENG is expanding its presence in Europe as it builds out its sales and service network and local capabilities, including its European R&D centre in Munich. The company has delivered more than 100,000 vehicles overseas, including over 60,000 in Europe. In France, XPENG has delivered more than 6,000 vehicles since entering the market two years ago.
The company is also expanding its European product portfolio. Following its global debut in Munich in July 2026, the L03 SUV coupe is now preparing to begin its first deliveries to European customers.
From European intelligent driving development and local manufacturing to products tailored for European users, XPENG is strengthening its "In Europe, For Europe" approach — bringing global technology capabilities closer to local customers.
A New Chapter in XPENG's Global Expansion
2026 has marked another step in XPENG's international expansion, with continued growth in overseas sales, stores and localized operations alongside the commercialization of its Physical AI technologies.
In the second quarter, overseas deliveries surpassed 20,000 units for the first time, up 81% year-on-year. In August, its robotics business completed a first funding round of over US$900 million — the largest single-round private raise in China's embodied AI industry. And in September, IRON, its advanced general-purpose humanoid robot, rolled off its newly commissioned production line, a key step toward mass production.
As the automotive industry gathers in Paris, XPENG will demonstrate how Physical AI is moving from technology into real-world mobility — and from China to the world, with Europe playing an increasingly important role in that journey.
XPENG Paris Night
Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026
Format: Brand Event & Fireside Chat & Dinner
Venue: Downtown Paris
XPENG Paris Motor Show Press Conference
Date: Monday, October 12, 2026
Time: 11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Location: Hall 6, Booth A51
Venue: Paris Motor Show, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
If you are interested in XPENG's Paris Motor Show event, please contact:
[email protected]
XPENG Paris Motor Show Press Kit:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1I8SLTqDREdDCzeY5YUu8LjLe7jlPI6e2
About XPENG
XPENG is a leading global Physical AI company, dedicated to bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world to reshape future mobility and smart living. Through in-house R&D, XPENG has developed a full-stack Physical AI architecture spanning Turing AI chips, world foundation models, and highly integrated software and hardware applications. This unified technology foundation of XPENG powers an expansive product portfolio of smart EVs, robotaxis, and humanoid robots, advancing the deployment of Physical AI at scale. Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG is dual-primary listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. With global capabilities across R&D, manufacturing, sales, and services, XPENG drives continuous technological innovation and fosters an open Physical AI ecosystem, making life smarter, safer, and better for users worldwide. For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.
Geely just grabbed a major stake in the one asset that sets Nio apart from every other electric-vehicle maker, and investors are pushing back hard. Whether that reaction reflects a real loss or a misread opportunity depends on a strategic…
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Chinese electric-vehicle maker Nio (NYSE:NIO | NIO Price Prediction) signed a partnership that extends its battery-swap reach, yet the news is weighing on Nio shares. Nio stock is down 4% to $3.43, a reaction to a deal that changes ownership of the company’s most distinctive asset. In the agreement Nio announced, Geely Holding Group receives a 30% stake in Nio Power, the company’s battery-swap and charging subsidiary.
Across the market, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) is practically unchanged, leaving Nio and other Chinese electric-vehicle names as clear laggards. Similarly, fellow Chinese automaker XPeng (NYSE:XPEV) is down 4% to $9.52, sliding in sympathy with Nio.
Notably, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is down 1% to $352.87, holding comparatively steady while Nio and XPeng retreat sharply. That split points to pressure centered on China’s electric-vehicle complex, with Tesla avoiding the selloff. For a wider lens on the theme, the Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ:DRIV) tracks a global basket of automakers, suppliers and technology names. Those are tied to the trend, including Tesla; the DRIV fund is unchanged at $33.22.
Geely Deal Opens Nio Power to Rivals Monday’s signing ceremony formalized a battery-swap and charging partnership between Nio and Geely Holding Group. Under the agreement, Geely is contributing its Yiyi Power business along with cash in exchange for its stake, while Nio China keeps a controlling interest in Nio Power. In a reciprocal step, Nio China is taking a minority stake in Geely’s Haohan Energy charging business.
Together, Nio and Geely plan to connect the two charging networks and jointly develop battery-swap technology and common standards for passenger vehicles. Geely also stated it will build consumer models able to use Nio Power’s swap network. Nio’s chief executive added at the signing that the arrangement is open to other automakers.
Dilution Risk Versus a Busier Swap Network The bearish reading of Nio centers on dilution. Handing Geely a large minority stake in Nio Power means Nio gives up part of the asset that most separates the company from other electric-vehicle makers, and that trade-off gives holders of Nio stock a concrete reason for caution, since Geely now owns a meaningful interest in the direction of the swap business.
A more bullish reading of Nio flips that logic. According to Nio’s chief executive, most of the electricity delivered through the company’s charging network already goes to drivers of other brands. The system may be worth more shared than owned fully. Geely’s help funding the expansion also removes capital Nio would otherwise have to raise on its own.
Beyond Geely, Nio’s chief executive made a broader case that automakers should converge on common infrastructure and pool what would otherwise be overlapping networks. Wider adoption by other brands could turn Nio Power into a busier, better-utilized system, spreading its fixed costs across more drivers.
Why XPeng Falls and Tesla Holds XPeng sits outside the Geely agreement, yet XPeng shares are sliding alongside Nio. That sympathy move in XPeng stock reflects broader sentiment toward China’s electric-vehicle makers, where a strategic shift at one company can ripple through the sector. For XPeng holders, the Nio news raises fresh questions about how domestic rivals fund costly charging infrastructure.
Nio remains the name with the most at stake, since Nio Power is the company’s proprietary battery-swap network and the core of its pitch to drivers. Any change in how Nio Power is owned or run touches that core directly, which may help explain why the decline is steepest in Nio stock.
What to Watch Next Given how quickly Chinese electric-vehicle stocks can swing on a single headline, holders of Nio shares would do well to size their positions modestly and match them to their own risk tolerance. A diversified fund such as the Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF may be worth researching for those who prefer to spread their exposure across the wider theme.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) launched presales of its second model jointly developed with EV maker Xpeng (9868.HK) in China on Thursday, expanding its electric vehicle offensive to catch up with Chinese rivals.
The new electric fastback sedan debuts as the German auto giant battles a deepening crisis in its largest market, driven by weaker sales and slimmer profit margins.
The model, ID. UNYX 09, is the latest offering in Volkswagen's "in China, for China" campaign, which aims to accelerate vehicle development and better compete with domestic carmakers like BYD (002594.SZ) or Geely (0175.HK).
Volkswagen's partnership with Xpeng has been central to its China revamp strategy to fend off swift electrification, which led to the launch of its first Xpeng model, the ID. UNYX 08 SUV, earlier this year.
Despite that push, Volkswagen's deliveries to China fell 26% to 971,000 units in the first half of 2026, the company said in July, noting it was "unable to escape" the significant decline in the Chinese market. That was their lowest level in 16 years.
NEW SEDAN BROUGHT TO PRODUCTION IN JUST TWO YEARS
The current contraction in the Chinese market was equivalent to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Volkswagen's China chief said this week.
It has said the ID. UNYX 09 has been brought to production in just 24 months, about 30% faster, on its new China-based architecture.
The mid- to large-size EV coupe is equipped with batteries from CATL (300750.SZ), and Xpeng's VLA intelligent driving assistance system. It will be built at Volkswagen's Hefei plant, west of Shanghai, which also produces the ID. UNYX 08.
Priced from 199,900 yuan ($29,785) in presales, the new sedan will officially go on sale at the end of October.
In China, homegrown brands continue to erode the market share the German giant once held. Volkswagen plans to launch more than 20 battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models this year.
Volkswagen has partnered up with Xpeng since 2023 when it bought a 5% stake in the Chinese firm.
Expanding beyond its work with Volkswagen, Xpeng plans to offer its technology to other foreign automakers, Reuters exclusively reported this month.
Xpeng chce nabídnout svou technologii i dalším zahraničním automobilkám, nejen Volkswagenu, a rozšířit licencování i na robotaxi, robotiku a další fyzické AI aplikace. Cílí tím na nové zdroje vyšších marží.
Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng (9868.HK) plans to offer its technology to foreign automakers beyond partner Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) as it seeks new revenue streams, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Xpeng has been in contact with some potential partners that have expressed interest in its technology, one of the sources said.
The company plans to offer its electrical and electronic architecture, cockpit systems, Turing AI chips, and advanced-driver assistance software to other firms, the source said. Potential partners could also include foreign software developers and automobile suppliers.
The EV maker, which is expanding into robotaxis, humanoid robots and flying cars, also plans to broaden its technology licensing and customisation business to cover robotaxi, robotics and other physical AI applications, the second source said. Its offering would also include the operational deployment of Xpeng's robotaxis.
Reuters is reporting the plans for the first time.
The sources did not identify the automakers or other potential partners.
HIGHER-MARGIN SERVICES
The expanded offerings come as Chinese EV makers are reshaping vehicle design and technology worldwide.
Xpeng established a strategic commercialisation team about six months ago to explore new technology partnerships and other commercial possibilities, building on the experience gained through its alliance with Volkswagen, the sources said.
Xpeng's partnership with Volkswagen began in July 2023 when the German automaker bought a 4.99% stake in the Chinese EV maker for about $700 million. The alliance covers EV platforms, software and electronic architecture.
The first jointly developed model, the ID.UNYX 08 electric SUV, incorporates Xpeng's cockpit systems, smart-driving technology and Turing AI chips.
The model entered mass production in March 2026, just 24 months after the collaboration started.
The partnership has emerged as a meaningful new source of revenue for Xpeng, particularly through technology services, although the company remained loss-making in the first and second quarters of the current financial year.
While vehicle sales revenue was little changed in the second quarter and vehicle margin narrowed to 12.1% from 14.3%, revenue from services and other businesses almost doubled, lifting the segment's margin to 75.1% from 53.6% a year earlier.
On a post-earnings call in late August, Xpeng's management said the increase was driven mainly by technology research and development services provided under the Volkswagen partnership, as well as higher revenue from components and accessories sales.
The higher-margin services business could become increasingly important as Xpeng expands into physical AI. CEO He Xiaopeng has said humanoid robots could eventually generate significantly higher margins than vehicles.
Xpeng's general-purpose humanoid robot, IRON, walked off production lines earlier this month as the company moves towards mass production by year-end. Xpeng plans to begin commercial deliveries in China and overseas markets in 2027.
The company has also accelerated its international expansion, with cumulative overseas sales surpassing 100,000 vehicles since entering Norway in 2020.
The G9L SUV, unveiled in Beijing on Thursday, is due to make its international debut at the Paris Motor Show next month and will become the fourth model to be built at Magna's (MG.TO) plant in Austria, after the G6, G9 and P7+.
XPENG announces that the G9L will be launched in 64 global markets, with its global launch set for October 12 at the Paris Motor Show. Built and designed for global users, the G9L will become the fourth XPENG model to be produced in Europe, marking four localized models within one year. , /PRNewswire/ -- XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or the "Company,"NYSE: XPEV; HKEX: 9868), a leading global Physical AI company, today held its G9L China Launch Event in Beijing, China, and announced the G9L will be available in 64 global markets, with a global launch event scheduled on October 12 at Paris Motor Show.
XPENG G9L stuns at China launch event in Beijing. Image credit: XPENG
XPENG G9L stuns at China launch event in Beijing. Image credit: XPENG
XPENG IRON humanoid robot walks off the production line. Image credit: XPENG The G9L is XPENG's Next-Gen AI Flagship SUV, available in both BEV and REEV versions. With an overall length of 5,120 mm and a wheelbase of 3,100 mm, the G9L features a golden wheelbase-to-length ratio of 0.605, delivering better space and handling agility than its segment peers. As a premium model, it embodies XPENG's latest innovations in physical AI, spanning smart driving and the intelligent cockpit, and offering flagship-level features and global standards. Specifically, powered by XPENG VLA 2.0 model, the G9L enables fast cross-region generalization, delivering a smooth, safe, and steady performance to more global markets. Meanwhile, the G9L features the same Turing AI chip as XPENG's humanoid robot IRON.
"Global car" is a key product strategy for XPENG. Under the philosophy of "Global Standards, Global Manufacturing," this means the car must meet global safety and quality standards, its R&D needs to adapt to the requirements of different markets, and bring industry-leading technologies to users worldwide.
The G9L meets the design standards of four major five-star safety ratings worldwide. It has completed 192 crash tests across four major protocols — Euro NCAP, ANCAP, C-NCAP, and CIASI — totaling more than 110 individual test items. Over a three-year period, it has also undergone global road testing across 26 countries and regions, with cumulative mileage surpassing 6.74 million kilometers. Its electric powertrain, engineered to global vehicle standards, delivers stability that stands up to extreme environments worldwide.
At the launch event, He Xiaopeng, Chairman & CEO of XPENG, also reviewed XPENG's latest progress in humanoid robot — the world's first automated production line for advanced general-purpose humanoid robots was officially commissioned, using "robots to produce robots". He said, "We believe in 'car as robot', over the past few years, we have built an in-house AI foundation based on our work in AI cars and humanoid robots, and it powers both." This also explains why the G9L is a tech flagship SUV: it runs on XPENG's industry-leading physical AI technology.
The G9L will begin production in both Guangzhou, China, and Graz, Austria. Following the G6, G9, and P7+, it becomes the fourth model to roll off the line at Magna's plant in Graz, Austria — sharing the same lines and the same factory as European luxury vehicles. Behind this is XPENG's deepening collaboration with Magna. After announcing a cooperation agreement in September 2025, XPENG leveraged Magna's mature production lines to assemble locally in Europe, launching four models within a single year.
At the end of the event, Mr. He also announced that the G9L Global Launch Event will be held on October 12 at the Paris Motor Show in France, where XPENG's booth is in Hall 6. The launch in France is merely the first stop, with the G9L to be introduced in 64 countries and regions.
If you are interested in XPENG's Paris Motor Show event, please contact:
[email protected]
XPENG Paris Motor Show Press Kit:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1I8SLTqDREdDCzeY5YUu8LjLe7jlPI6e2
Prodeje osobních aut v Číně v srpnu meziročně klesly o 23,7 %, ale NEV dosáhly rekordního podílu 65,2 %. Vývoz osobních aut zároveň vyskočil o 77,5 % na 894 000 kusů.
Key Takeaways China's passenger vehicle sales fell 23.7% in August, while NEVs reached a record 65.2% share.Petrol car sales plunged 40%, while BYD's August sales rose 17.8% to a nine-month high.Passenger vehicle exports surged 77.5% to 894,000 units, providing a key outlet amid weak demand. China’s auto market remains under pressure, but the headline decline in vehicle sales does not tell the full story. Passenger vehicle retail sales fell 23.7% year over year to 1.55 million units in August, extending the market’s losing streak to 11 consecutive months, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), as cited by Reuters. The decline also accelerated from July’s 21.1% drop.
Beneath the weak sales numbers, the industry seems to be undergoing a deeper shift. Consumers are moving toward new-energy vehicles (NEVs), while Chinese automakers are finding stronger demand outside the domestic market. Basically, traditional vehicle sales are losing ground, while NEV adoption growth rate and exports are gaining momentum.
NEVs Keep Taking a Bigger SharePure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for a record 65.2% of passenger-vehicle sales in China last month, narrowly surpassing the previous record of 65.1% set in July.
And the penetration is increasing even as government support becomes less generous. China cut its EV purchase tax break starting January 2026. The full 10% purchase tax exemption on eligible NEVs, capped at 30,000 yuan, dropped to 5%, capped at 15,000 yuan. Despite smaller incentives, buyers are still choosing EVs for reasons beyond cost savings.
A broader EV ecosystem is also making the transition easier. Per China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance, China had about 5.1 million public charging stations at the end of July, up 21.3% from a year earlier, while household charging piles reached nearly 18.6 million, an increase of 48.8%, as cited by South China Morning Post. Better charging availability, improved vehicle range and a growing selection of models are reducing some of the practical barriers that previously held buyers back.
Automakers are giving consumers more reasons to switch. New EV launches combine electric powertrains with advanced driver-assistance systems and other technology features. As these capabilities become more common, EVs are competing not only on running costs but also on technology and features.
BYD, LI, XPEV & NIO Sales RiseThe rising NEV share becomes even more striking when looking at the weakness in conventional vehicles. Petrol-powered car sales plunged 40% year over year in August. Basically, China’s auto market is being reshaped. The competitive landscape is shifting toward companies that can combine EV technology, pricing and new features effectively.
BYD Co Ltd (BYDDY - Free Report) saw its August sales rise 17.8% year over year to 440,293 vehicles, reaching their highest level in nine months. Emerging players are also expanding. XPeng Inc. (XPEV - Free Report) delivered 39,107 vehicles, up 4% year over year. Li Auto (LI - Free Report) and NIO Inc. (NIO - Free Report) sold 37,679 and 35,836 units, representing year-over-year growth of 32.1% and 14.5%, respectively.
Exports Are Becoming a Second Growth EngineChinese automakers are not relying solely on a weak home market for growth. Passenger-vehicle exports surged 77.5% year over year to 894,000 units last month. That gives the industry an important outlet for production at a time when domestic demand is under pressure. Chinese manufacturers are increasingly targeting Europe and emerging markets with vehicles that offer competitive pricing alongside advanced technology.
BYD is at the center of this overseas push. The company has emerged as China’s largest NEV exporter and has raised its 2026 overseas sales target for the second time, now targeting as many as 2 million units. Chery remains a major exporter as well, while companies such as Leapmotor are using international partnerships to accelerate their expansion. Leapmotor, for instance, delivered 103,129 vehicles globally in August, an 80.7% year-over-year increase, supported in part by its partnership with Stellantis (STLA - Free Report) .
The scale of the export opportunity could become even more important over time. CPCA Secretary-General Cui Dongshu expects China’s vehicle exports to reach 12 million units this year and potentially rise to 18-20 million by 2030.
Last WordChina’s auto industry is facing two very different realities. Domestic vehicle demand remains weak. But at the same time, NEVs are capturing an unprecedented share of the market, and Chinese automakers are expanding their reach overseas. That makes the August data less a story of simple market deterioration and more a story of industry transition.
Tesla podle zprávy zadala první velkou objednávku dílů pro zhruba 5 000 robotů Optimus, což naznačuje posun od prototypů k sériové výrobě. XPENG mezitím spustil automatizovanou linku, kde roboti skládají další roboty.
For years, the humanoid robotics race has been about proving the technology works. This week, the conversation shifted to something arguably more important: whether companies can manufacture these machines at scale.
Announcements from Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) and XPeng Inc. (NYSE:XPEV) suggest the industry’s next battleground is no longer intelligence—it’s production.
Tesla Optimus ProductionTesla has reportedly taken a significant step toward scaling its Optimus humanoid robot. According to a report by Chinese outlet Jiemian News, citing supply-chain sources, the company has placed its first large-scale component order covering roughly 5,000 Optimus robots, marking the program’s first procurement in the thousands. Tesla has not publicly confirmed the report.
The reported order comes as suppliers prepare for production audits and higher manufacturing volumes, signaling that the focus is moving beyond prototype development and toward repeatable factory output. It also aligns with Tesla’s earlier guidance that first-generation Optimus production lines are being installed in Fremont ahead of volume production.
While Tesla has previously showcased Optimus performing factory tasks, large-scale manufacturing has remained the bigger challenge. If the supply-chain reports prove accurate, the company’s priorities are beginning to shift from engineering demonstrations to execution.
Read Next
XPENG Robot FactoryXPENG made an equally notable announcement from China.
CEO He Xiaopeng said the company has launched what it describes as the world’s first automated production line for advanced general-purpose humanoid robots, with robots assembling other robots autonomously. Calling the milestone “uncharted territory,” He said the production line means humanoid robots are now ready to “scale up and step into the real world.”
The announcement builds on XPENG’s previously disclosed ambition to begin large-scale production of its IRON humanoid robot by the end of 2026 and eventually expand commercial deployments beyond factories.
Unlike earlier product unveilings that emphasized robot capabilities, XPENG’s latest update puts manufacturing at the center of its strategy—suggesting production capacity is becoming as important as artificial intelligence itself.
What Investors Should WatchTesla’s reported production order and XPENG’s automated robot factory point to the same emerging trend: the humanoid robotics industry is entering its manufacturing phase.
That does not mean mass adoption is imminent. Companies still need to prove these robots can perform useful work reliably and economically. But if the race is indeed shifting from prototypes to production, investors may need to look beyond the robot makers themselves.
Component suppliers, precision manufacturers and industrial automation companies could become just as important as the firms building the humanoids, especially if large-scale production becomes the industry’s next competitive advantage.
Read Next
Image created using artificial intelligence via ChatGPT
XPENG spustil výrobní linky pro humanoidní roboty a IRON se autonomně svezl z linky, což znamená přechod od prototypů k výrobě. Firma plánuje masovou výrobu do konce roku.
XPENG has officially commissioned its humanoid robot production lines and completed the production-lines manufacturing of the world's first advanced humanoid robot, which autonomously walked off the lines, marking a critical leap from R&D prototyping to production-lines manufacturing. XPENG's humanoid robot production lines feature core process automation exceeding 80%, setting a new manufacturing benchmark with a precision, flexible, and intelligent production line. XPENG extends its automotive-grade manufacturing capabilities to robotics, marking a critical step toward mass production. , /PRNewswire/ -- XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or the "Company,"NYSE: XPEV; HKEX: 9868), a leading global Physical AI company, today announced that its humanoid robot production lines are now in operation, and the world's first advanced general‑purpose humanoid robot made its debut by autonomously walking off the lines after completing production. This achievement signifies a key leap from R&D prototyping to line manufacturing and an important advance toward volume production.
XPENG's robot production lines are the world's first automated production lines for advanced humanoid robots, deeply integrating the mature automotive-grade quality systems of the smart electric vehicle industry with precision manufacturing for humanoid robot. Built to automotive-grade quality standards, it establishes a quality system for mass production of advanced humanoid robots. Designed for scale from day one, with over 80% of core processes automated, the lines deliver a high-precision, highly flexible, and intelligent manufacturing system, ensuring consistent critical-process quality and laying the foundation for scaled production and rapid capacity expansion.
He Xiaopeng, Chairman & CEO of XPENG, said: "The robot production lines were created from scratch with no precedent to follow. Today's step is small, but XPENG is building the production lines for an entirely new product category. Looking ahead, XPENG will continue to explore faster production rhythms and greater scale in robot manufacturing, charting a new path toward a leading robot manufacturing industry in China and globally."
As a key pillar of XPENG's Physical AI strategy, XPENG's next-generation IRON is an advanced humanoid robot combining highly human-like form and movement with AI-driven intelligence, designed to meet the highest safety standards. It is being developed as an advanced general-purpose humanoid robot platform, capable of supporting a broad range of applications and continuously improving through self-reinforcement in the real world.
XPENG IRON features an industry-leading human-like form and design, with a proprietary fully enclosed flexible lattice structure designed to balance aesthetics and safety. With 76 degrees of freedom (DOF) across the body and 21 in each hand, IRON delivers industry-leading levels of dexterity and mobility. On the intelligence side, XPENG IRON is powered by three Turing AI chips delivering up to 2,250 TOPS of effective computing power. This computing power enables XPENG to deploy its Physical AI foundation model directly on the robot, enabling IRON to autonomously perform complex tasks without remote operation, while ensuring low-latency inference and enhanced data security.
Mr. He said, "We aim to build a new type of robot with full generalization capabilities that can truly become part of everyday life, create a better life for people, and ultimately become a companion in their lives." And he put on a staff badge for IRON, symbolizing that it has officially become a member of the XPENG team.
Looking ahead, XPENG robots are scheduled to enter mass production by the end of this year, with initial commercial-scenario rollouts beginning in XPENG's own stores and campuses. Official market launch and delivery in China and overseas markets are planned for 2027.
XPENG remains committed to its physical-AI and globalization strategy, continuously building three growth curves: automotive, robotics, and globalization. The rollout of the first advanced general-purpose humanoid robot and the activation of the production lines mark another important milestone in the ongoing implementation of XPENG's physical-AI strategy. Given the high technical barriers and limited high-quality supply in the advanced general-purpose humanoid robot segment, the gross margin per unit is expected to be significantly higher than that of new energy vehicles. As XPENG's robotics business accelerates into scaled manufacturing and commercialization, its value as the Company's second growth curve is rapidly becoming visible.
On August 24, XPENG's robotics business has entered into share purchase agreements with multiple investors, raising over US$900 million at a post-money valuation of over US$6.3 billion, which marks the largest single-round private capital raise in China's embodied AI industry to date. This is a strong endorsement from the capital markets of XPENG Group's leading position, technology roadmap, scaled manufacturing capabilities, and long-term commercial value in the physical AI domain.
From a unified physical AI foundation model, to different intelligent embodiments, to scaled manufacturing, XPENG is progressively connecting the full chain from model base and product R&D to industrialized deployment, bringing AI out of the digital world into the real world, and into the broader physical world.
About XPENG
XPENG is a global leader in physical AI, dedicated to bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world and redefining future mobility and smart living. The company has built a full-stack self-developed physical AI technology system covering Turing AI chips, physical world foundation models, and highly integrated software and hardware applications. Based on its unified technology foundation, XPENG has developed products including smart electric vehicles, Robotaxi, and humanoid robots, driving the scaled deployment of physical AI. Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG has dual primary listings on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. With an international R&D, manufacturing, sales, and service system, XPENG brings smarter, safer, and better lifestyles to users worldwide through continuous technological innovation and an open physical AI ecosystem. For more information, please visit XPENG's official website at https://www.xpeng.com/.
Nio klesá o 4 % po varování, že vyšší náklady na baterie a paměťové čipy mohou ve druhé polovině roku přidat RMB 2 000 až RMB 3 000 na vůz. Tržby sice meziročně vzrostly o 69,1 %, ale zaostaly za odhady.
Nio just posted its most profitable quarter in years, yet investors are dumping the stock. The culprit is a cost pressure that has nothing to do with cars and everything to do with the AI infrastructure boom eating into Nio's…
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The Chinese electric vehicle sector is reacting a sharp cost-guidance warning, delivered inside what was arguably Nio’s best profit quarter to date. Nio’s management flagged rising costs for batteries and memory chips as the defining challenge of the second half, and investors sold the story despite a huge margin expansion.
The Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ:DRIV) is down 1% to $34.08. Meanwhile, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) is down 0.7% to $761.68. The electric vehicle fund is trading only slightly softer than the broad market, which places today’s move inside Nio rather than across the sector.
Nio (NYSE:NIO | NIO Price Prediction) stock is down 4% to $4.06 in afternoon trading, having entered the session down 17% year to date through Monday’s close. At the same time, XPeng (NYSE:XPEV) stock is down 0.5% to $11.31, holding steady after XPeng’s own Q2 2026 report last week.
Best Quarter in Years Meets a Cost Warning Nio’s Q2 2026 numbers landed with the kind of profitability the company has been chasing for years. Nio’s revenue rose 69.1% year over year (YoY) to RMB32.14 billion, or $4.74 billion, missing expectations near $4.95 billion. GAAP net loss at Nio narrowed to RMB528 million from RMB4.99 billion a year earlier, and the company reported an adjusted profit for the quarter.
Vehicle margin at Nio improved to 18.5% from 10.3% a year earlier, and overall gross margin expanded to 18.4%. Nio’s deliveries climbed 49.4% YoY to 107,658 units, with the third-generation ES8 crossing 140,000 cumulative deliveries within 11 months of launch. Management said the ES8 and ES9 both carry vehicle margins above 20%, anchoring the mix.
Balance-sheet strength backed it up. Nio ended the quarter with RMB56.7 billion in cash, restricted cash, short-term investments, and long-term time deposits, and generated positive operating cash flow and positive free cash flow. That’s a first for the company at this scale.
What did the damage was Q3 guidance. Nio expects third-quarter deliveries of 108,000 to 111,000 vehicles and revenue of RMB33.29 billion to RMB34.05 billion, or $4.9 billion to $5 billion, slightly under Wall Street’s number. More important, management flagged rising component costs including batteries and memory chips, expected to add RMB2,000 to RMB3,000 per vehicle in the second half.
Memory Chip Costs Reach the Auto Aisle The memory-chip line in Nio’s disclosure is the interesting one. It’s a cost input that originates far outside the automotive supply chain, driven by AI data-center demand for high-bandwidth memory and DRAM, and it is now landing as a per-vehicle expense on Chinese electric SUVs. Nio said the cost pressure began from the beginning of March this year, with a Q2 average impact of around RMB14,000 per car versus late last year.
Nio outlined its mitigation plan on the call: supply-chain optimization, commercial negotiations with suppliers, further cost-structure work, tighter product definition, and reuse of core technologies across the NIO, Onvo, and Firefly brands. The stated target is to hold Q3 and Q4 vehicle margin at a level similar to Q2’s 18.5%.
The margin gains investors just digested are backward-looking. Nio’s cost guidance is forward-looking. A company that has finally proved it can build cars profitably is being asked whether it can hold that line while an outside industry, artificial intelligence infrastructure, competes for its inputs (we pulled together seven suppliers riding that same AI buildout, from power to cooling, in a free report). That’s the whole selloff in one sentence.
XPeng’s Q2 call last week flagged similar industry-wide cost pressure without breaking out chip inputs, and XPeng stock has largely digested that report. Other Chinese EV names traded in a tight band, which helps explain why the ETF is barely moving while Nio absorbs the hit alone.
What to Watch The fair question for Nio is whether 24% to 27.5% delivery growth with compressing input costs is worth more or less than the margin expansion just delivered. Management’s stated goal is to hold vehicle margin near 18.5%, which would require the mitigation work to fully offset the RMB2,000 to RMB3,000 per-car cost. That’s the number to trace into Nio’s Q3 report in November.
Traders can watch for whether the memory-chip cost commentary becomes a broader theme across the Chinese EV cohort in coming weeks. Given the cost uncertainty and Nio’s ongoing losses on a six-month basis, investors should size their positions carefully, treating Nio as a delivery-growth story where second-half margin durability decides the next re-rating.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
, /PRNewswire/ -- XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or the "Company,"NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868), a leading global Physical AI company, today announced its vehicle delivery results for August 2026.
XPENG delivered 39,107 vehicles in August 2026, up 4% year-over-year.
On August 11, 2026, the XPENG G9L made its official debut and commenced pre-sales in the Chinese mainland.
In August, XPENG Robotaxi business validation gained further progress. The Company secured a permit to conduct remote testing of intelligent connected vehicles in Guangzhou, allowing road trials without an onboard safety operator on designated Level 1, 2 and 3 test roads across the city and marking a key milestone toward fully driverless road testing.
XPENG's electric vehicles delivered from January to August 2026 are expected to reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 3.72 million tons compared to internal combustion engine vehicles, equivalent to the carbon absorbed by 61.6 million young trees over 10 years.
About XPENG
XPENG is a leading global Physical AI company, dedicated to bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world to reshape future mobility and smart living. Through in-house R&D, XPENG has developed a full-stack Physical AI architecture spanning Turing AI chips, world foundation models, and highly integrated software and hardware applications. This unified technology foundation of XPENG powers an expansive product portfolio of smart EVs, robotaxis, and humanoid robots, advancing the deployment of Physical AI at scale. Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG is dual-primary listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. With global capabilities across R&D, manufacturing, sales, and services, XPENG drives continuous technological innovation and fosters an open Physical AI ecosystem, making life smarter, safer, and better for users worldwide. For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about XPENG's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: XPENG's goal and strategies; XPENG's expansion plans; XPENG's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the trends in, and size of, China's EV market; XPENG's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; XPENG's expectations regarding its relationships with customers, suppliers, third-party service providers, strategic partners and other stakeholders; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in XPENG's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and XPENG does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
XPeng získal přes 900 milionů USD v rámci kola Series A pro svou robotickou divizi Dogotix, kterou ocenil na zhruba 6,3 miliardy USD. Peníze mají urychlit sériovou výrobu humanoidního robota IRON do konce roku 2026.
When earnings miss the mark, the market often reacts with ruthless efficiency—selling first and parsing the details later. That is seemingly the setup currently unfolding with XPeng Inc. NYSE: XPEV.
XPENG Today
$11.52 -0.01 (-0.09%)
As of 08/28/2026 03:58 PM Eastern
$11.06▼
$28.24$25.31
The market recently punished the company following a top-line miss in the automotive sector, pushing shares down toward a stubborn 52-week support level of around $11. Squeezed by a brutal domestic price war and shifting international tariffs, the core electric-vehicle (EV) narrative appears undeniably challenged on the surface. But looking strictly at the headwinds misses the real story.
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Hidden beneath the headline noise is a quiet, multi-billion-dollar capitalization event that completely changes the math for long-term investors. By fixating entirely on near-term vehicle deliveries, Wall Street has overlooked a strategic pivot. The current price action of XPeng Inc.'s stock offers a rare chance to look under the hood of a changing operation.
The Stealth Robotics Spin-off Shaking Up XPengXPeng is no longer just an electric vehicle manufacturer, as it is rapidly incubating a standalone physical artificial intelligence (AI) competitor. The company recently secured a substantial Series A funding round exceeding $900 million for its robotics subsidiary, Dogotix. This capital injection assigns a post-money valuation of about $6.3 billion to the division, establishing a hard, objective market value for the firm.
What makes this event stand out is the strategic weight behind it. The funding round is anchored by tech heavyweights Tencent OTCMKTS: TCEHY and Alibaba NYSE: BABA, providing the critical data center and ecosystem infrastructure necessary to scale physical AI.
To underscore the internal conviction, XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng personally committed approximately $100 million to the round. This capital is specifically earmarked to accelerate the mass production of the IRON humanoid robot by the end of 2026, positioning XPeng to front-run competing programs in the commercial robotics space.
Unlocking Value: The Robotics Spin-OffThe long-term plan involves spinning the robotics arm into a standalone entity over the next 18 months, with XPeng retaining around an 82% ownership stake. This is a classic value-unlocking maneuver. By carving out the high-growth AI division, management creates a distinct vehicle for institutional capital that might want exposure to robotics but is hesitant to invest directly in XPeng, which remains primarily an EV manufacturer.
Doing the Math: The Sum-of-the-Parts ArbitrageFor value-oriented investors, the math here reveals a glaring inefficiency. A sum-of-the-parts analysis is a valuation method in which you determine the value of a business's individual divisions if they were spun off or acquired by another entity. Apply this framework to XPEV's current share price, and the market valuation makes very little sense.
XPeng currently trades with an enterprise market capitalization hovering around $11 billion. If we back out the independently verified $6.3 billion valuation of the robotics subsidiary, the market is effectively pricing the core EV operation at roughly $4.7 billion.
Buying an EV Empire for Pennies on the DollarThat $4.7 billion price tag covers a fully operational global vehicle manufacturing footprint, an annual revenue run rate approaching $74 billion, a proprietary autonomous driving software stack, and an expanding international charging infrastructure network. Acquiring those assets at that valuation would be akin to buying them at a highly distressed multiple.
XPeng's price-to-book ratio sits at a modest 2.56, with a book value per share of around $4.42. Quantitative trading models are pricing XPeng strictly on its recent EV delivery guidance misses, heavily discounting the automotive business while assigning virtually zero premium to the incubated robotics unit. This disconnect provides a rigid fundamental floor for XPeng, as the intrinsic value of the underlying parts far outweighs the current market price of the company as a whole.
Hedging the EV Price War With AINo investment is without risk, and the automotive sector currently faces a formidable wall of macro headwinds. Intense domestic competition in China has triggered an aggressive price war, compressing margins across the board and pushing XPeng's trailing 12-month earnings per share into negative territory. Simultaneously, punitive export tariffs from the U.S. and European markets threaten to throttle international expansion efforts. These are valid concerns that justify a degree of caution regarding traditional EV pure-plays.
However, the aggressive push into physical AI acts as a hedge against these exact risks. The robotics carve-out creates a capital-intensive AI entity that leverages domestic software ecosystems, sidestepping the cross-border friction in hardware sales that currently plagues the broader EV sector.
By shifting focus to a high-margin, domestic-facing technology product like the IRON robot, management is effectively insulating a large portion of XPeng's long-term valuation from the headwinds in the automotive sector. The robotics division offers a distinct growth engine untethered from the daily fluctuations of car dealership lots or rapidly changing global tariff policies.
Charting the Entry: Accumulating XPengMarket sentiment remains clouded by the latest earnings report, yet the underlying institutional footprint tells a different story. Core institutional holders such as Valeo Financial Advisors, Nykredit A/S, and Greenleaf Trust continue to hold their positions, likely recognizing the latent value of the technology stack. Wall Street analysts also seem to grasp the broader narrative. Despite recent technical weakness, research firms, including Bank of America NYSE: BAC and Jefferies NYSE: JEF, have reiterated Buy ratings over the last 90 days. The consensus 12-month price target remains heavily elevated, sitting near $25.70.
Current Price$11.52High Forecast$34.00Average Forecast$25.31Low Forecast$14.00XPENG Stock Forecast Details
When a stock trades down to a key support level on bad news that affects only a portion of its business, it creates a clear window of opportunity. XPEV's current 52-week support level near $11 presents a high-probability entry point for those willing to look past the immediate quarter.
Accumulating shares into this automotive-driven weakness essentially allows investors to secure a stake in a multi-billion-dollar, Tencent-backed physical AI division at a stark discount. Cautious investors might wait for XPeng to establish a firm technical base above $11, while those with a higher risk tolerance could view the current price as a prime opportunity to build a position in a transformative technology operator masquerading as an out-of-favor automaker.
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Xpeng varuje, že výnosy za 3. čtvrtletí budou pod odhady Wall Street kvůli sílící konkurenci na čínském trhu s auty. Akcie před zahájením obchodování klesly o 3,1 %.
Chinese EV maker Xpeng (9868.HK) forecast third-quarter revenue below Wall Street expectations on Monday, hurt by intensifying competition in the domestic auto market.
The company's U.S.-listed shares fell 3.1% in premarket trading, on course to widen this year's losses of about 40% as of Friday.
Here are some details:
Xpeng forecast third-quarter revenue between 21.7 billion yuan ($3.23 billion) and 23.4 billion yuan, below analysts' average estimate of 26.61 billion yuan, according to data compiled by LSEG.
It delivered 103,295 units in the second quarter ended June 30, within its forecast range of 100,000 to 106,000 units.
"During the second quarter of 2026, our operations remained resilient despite industry-wide cost pressures," Xpeng's Vice Chairman and Co-President Hongdi Brian Gu said.
Chinese domestic car sales have been in steady decline since late last year, as weak consumer demand and years of intense price competition have left the world's biggest auto market glutted with excess capacity, pushing automakers to step up exports and overseas expansion.
Xpeng posted second-quarter net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of 1.34 billion yuan, far higher than estimates of a loss of 511.8 million yuan.
It also recalled 264,842 EVs as part of a broader China recall involving about 4.3 million vehicles over emergency door-release concerns.
Last month, the company launched its MONA L03, AI SUV coupe.
Separately, Xpeng's robotics unit raised more than $900 million in its first funding round, setting a record for a single private financing in China's embodied AI sector.
XPeng klesá o 7 % po slabých výnosech za 2. čtvrtletí a slabém výhledu na 3. čtvrtletí, které zastínily valuaci robotické divize nad 6,3 miliardy USD. NIO odepisuje 4 %.
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Chinese electric-vehicle ADRs are driving Monday morning’s selling. XPeng (NYSE:XPEV | XPEV Price Prediction) stock is down 7% to $11.40 after a Q2 2026 revenue miss and soft Q3 2026 outlook overshadowed a record valuation for the company’s humanoid robotics arm. Meanwhile, NIO (NYSE:NIO) stock is dropping 4% to $4.45 in sympathy with its Chinese EV peer.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock is sliding 2% to $354.06, a milder cut than the ADRs. Also, Lucid (NASDAQ:LCID) shares are slipping 1% to $5.46, while Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) stock is rising 0.7% to $17.09 against the trend. XPeng stock was down 40% year to date (YTD) through Friday’s close, extending an already brutal run.
Q2 Revenue Miss and Softer Outlook Take Center Stage XPeng reported Q2 2026 revenue of RMB19.74 billion (US$2.91 billion), up 8% year over year (YoY) and up 51.5% quarter over quarter, though below Wall Street expectations. Deliveries totaled 103,295 units, up 0.1% YoY, and gross margin expanded to 20.7% from 17.3% from a year earlier. Vehicle margin fell to 12.1% from 14.3% as XPeng absorbed a product-generation transition.
The larger issue is the Q3 guide. XPeng guided Q3 revenue to RMB21.7 billion to RMB23.4 billion against Wall Street’s RMB25.88 billion consensus per Fiscal.ai via Stocktwits, with Q3 deliveries at 115,000 to 121,000 units versus 116,007 year over year. The non-GAAP loss landed at RMB1.29 per American depositary share, wider than expected, while R&D expenses climbed 32% to RMB2.91 billion even as the cash pile held at RMB40.48 billion (US$5.97 billion) as of June 30.
IRON Draws Tencent and Alibaba Into a $6.3B Round XPeng’s robotics business raised over US$900 million at a post-money valuation above US$6.3 billion, the largest single-round private financing in China’s embodied AI industry. IDG Capital led the round, with Gaorong Ventures participating and Tencent and Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) joining as strategic investors. Notably, Alibaba stock is down 1% to $117.60 in Monday trading, though the strategic tie signals deepening Chinese-tech alignment behind physical AI.
XPeng retains controlling ownership of the robotics unit and will consolidate it in group financials. The IRON humanoid robot carries 76 degrees of freedom across the body and 21 in each hand, runs on three Turing AI chips delivering up to 2,250 TOPS, and targets mass production by the end of 2026. Initial commercial deployments are planned inside XPeng stores and campuses, with large-scale customer deliveries in China and overseas beginning in 2027.
XPeng Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng stated, “I believe XPENG will not only build one of China’s most valuable humanoid robotics companies, but also become a global leader in physical AI.” The valuation validates the R&D spend that has weighed on near-term earnings. Yet, the market is treating today’s action as an auto-margin story ahead of a robotics-optionality story.
EV Complex Splits Along Regional Lines The rotation inside the electric-vehicle group is telling. Chinese ADRs are absorbing the selling with XPeng down 7% and NIO down 4%, while Tesla’s 2% pullback and Lucid’s 1% slip look orderly by comparison, and Rivian shares are higher. The Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ:DRIV) offers a broader read, holding XPeng, NIO, Tesla, and Lucid inside its portfolio.
The earnings-day reaction pattern at XPeng favors caution. Even during a streak of five straight quarterly beats through Q1 2026, XPeng stock delivered a 10.3% day-of drop on Q3 2025 results and an 8.4% day-of decline on Q4 2025 results, and the average day-of change across those beats ran modestly negative. Today’s move on an actual miss fits that history, and the softer Q3 guide sharpens the concern.
For investors sizing their exposure to XPeng after today’s slide, position sizing matters more than usual (we wrote a free playbook on speculating with a small slice of a portfolio here: Small Stakes, Big Swings). The stock is a high-beta name with a robotics call option layered on top of a car business that just missed on the top line and guided Q3 below consensus. Investors should keep any new positions small enough to survive a similar release, and existing holders may want to trim exposure into strength rather than press into weakness.
Shareholders can watch for whether Q3 delivery momentum accelerates into September’s G9L flagship launch and Q4’s Mona L05 rollout in China. Traders could look for signs that XPeng’s overseas ramp, with quarterly international deliveries above 20,000 units in Q2, offsets the domestic guide. The XPeng conference call is the focus, and price action into Monday’s close can tell investors how much robotics optionality the market will underwrite from here.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Chinese automaker Xpeng (9868.HK) said on Monday its robotics unit had raised more than $900 million in its first funding round, setting a new record for a single private financing in China's embodied AI sector.
The funding round, led by IDG Capital and backed by strategic investors Tencent (0700.HK) and Alibaba (9988.HK), values the robotics business at more than $6.3 billion, Xpeng said in a statement.
The proceeds will be used to develop robotics hardware and software, train and refine physical AI models, collect high-quality data, build end-to-end mass-production facilities, and support global expansion, the company said.
Xpeng plans to begin mass production of its humanoid robot, Xpeng IRON, by year-end, with initial deployments at its retail stores and industrial campuses. Commercial sales and deliveries in China and overseas markets are scheduled to begin in 2027.
CEO He Xiaopeng announced in June that he would personally lead the robotics business as the electric vehicle maker, seen as one of the leading automaker-backed developers of humanoid robots, pushes towards mass production.
The robotics sector has attracted growing interest from automakers, which see parallels with intelligent vehicle development, including expertise in sensors, software, batteries and supply-chain management.
In April, Shanghai-based embodied AI startup TARS Robotics raised more than $455 million in a pre-A funding round, a deal that was then billed as the largest single private financing in China's embodied AI sector.
XPENG (NYSE:XPEV – Get Free Report) is expected to post its Q2 2026 results before the market opens on Monday, August 24th. Analysts expect XPENG to announce earnings of ($0.0596) per share and revenue of $3.0172 billion for the quarter. Interested persons may visit the the company’s upcoming Q2 2026 earning overview page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Monday, August 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM ET.
XPENG (NYSE:XPEV – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 28th. The company reported ($0.27) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.11) by ($0.16). XPENG had a negative return on equity of 7.72% and a negative net margin of 3.09%.The firm had revenue of $1.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.87 billion. On average, analysts expect XPENG to post $-0 EPS for the current fiscal year and $0 EPS for the next fiscal year.
XPENG Stock Up 0.1% Shares of NYSE:XPEV opened at $11.71 on Monday. XPENG has a 1 year low of $11.49 and a 1 year high of $28.24. The company has a market cap of $11.18 billion, a PE ratio of -34.43 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $13.08 and its 200 day moving average is $15.81.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen cut XPENG from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Sunday, May 24th. Barclays reduced their target price on XPENG from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. BNP Paribas Exane downgraded XPENG from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Bank of America reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of XPENG in a research note on Thursday, May 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut shares of XPENG from a “sell (d-)” rating to a “sell (e+)” rating in a report on Wednesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $25.40.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on XPENG
Institutional Trading of XPENG Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Royal Bank of Canada grew its holdings in shares of XPENG by 33.6% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 23,657 shares of the company’s stock worth $490,000 after acquiring an additional 5,945 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of XPENG by 29.4% in the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 127,533 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,280,000 after acquiring an additional 28,983 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of XPENG by 11.0% in the 3rd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 9,709 shares of the company’s stock worth $227,000 after acquiring an additional 964 shares in the last quarter. 21.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
XPENG Company Profile (Get Free Report)
XPENG Inc (NYSE: XPEV) is a China-based developer and manufacturer of smart electric vehicles. The company designs, engineers and sells battery-electric sedans and sport-utility vehicles along with related software and services. Founded in 2014, XPENG positions itself as a technology-driven automaker with a focus on vehicle connectivity, software-defined features and advanced driver assistance systems.
Product offerings center on passenger EVs spanning compact crossovers and midsize sedans, supported by in-house software platforms and over-the-air update capabilities.
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, /PRNewswire/ -- XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or the "Company,"NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868), a leading global Physical AI company, today announced its vehicle delivery results for July 2026.
XPENG delivered 38,027 vehicles in July, marking an increase of 4% year over year. As of July 31, 2026, the Company's cumulative deliveries reached a new milestone of more than 1.2 million units worldwide.
On July 16, XPENG held its Brand Day and the L03 Global Launch Event in Munich, Germany. The new global model will launch in 65 countries and regions this year, expanding XPENG's international product lineup.
On the global expansion front, earlier this month XPENG officially unveiled its long-term strategy for the Australian market, including plans to launch five all-new models in the second half of 2026 and continue expanding its local sales and service network. XPENG also announced that its NGP (Next Generation Pilot) system, powered by the in-house developed VLA 2.0 model, will begin its global rollout in 2027, bringing its intelligent driving technology to markets around the world.
XPENG's electric vehicles delivered from January to July 2026 are expected to reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 3.23 million tons compared to internal combustion engine vehicles, equivalent to the carbon absorbed by 53.75 million young trees over 10 years.
About XPENG
XPENG is a leading global Physical AI company, dedicated to bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world to reshape future mobility and smart living. Through in-house R&D, XPENG has developed a full-stack Physical AI architecture spanning Turing AI chips, world foundation models, and highly integrated software and hardware applications. This unified technology foundation of XPENG powers an expansive product portfolio of smart EVs, robotaxis, and humanoid robots, advancing the deployment of Physical AI at scale. Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG is dual-primary listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. With global capabilities across R&D, manufacturing, sales, and services, XPENG drives continuous technological innovation and fosters an open Physical AI ecosystem, making life smarter, safer, and better for users worldwide. For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about XPENG's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: XPENG's goal and strategies; XPENG's expansion plans; XPENG's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the trends in, and size of, China's EV market; XPENG's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; XPENG's expectations regarding its relationships with customers, suppliers, third-party service providers, strategic partners and other stakeholders; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in XPENG's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and XPENG does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
Tesla klesla na klíčovou support úroveň před výsledky hospodaření, zatímco Xpeng naznačil nový model proti Model Y v Číně a Evropě. TSLA se obchoduje za 380 USD, tedy více než 23 % pod letošním maximem.
Tesla stock dropped to a crucial support level on Friday as traders waited for the upcoming earnings. It also retreated as Xpeng, a top Chinese rival, hinted that it was about to launch a new Model Y killer. TSLA dropped to $380, down by over 23% from its highest point this year.
Xpeng, a top Chinese electric vehicle company worth over $12 billion, hinted that it was working on a new car that will take on Model Y in China and Europe. In a statement, the company’s co-founder said:
“I think we’re not far from beating Model Y. I really believe in that.”
The statement came after the company launched L03, its more affordable electric SUV that starts at about 35,600 euros. It launched this model simultaneously in China and Europe. It is a more affordable vehicle than Model Y, which starts at 39,990 euros.
Xpeng hopes that the new vehicle will help it supercharge its deliveries and stock. In a recent report, the company said that its deliveries stood at 40,126 vehicles in June and 103,295 in the second quarter. It delivered 34,611 vehicle in June and 103,181 vehicles in Q2 of last year.
Tesla has come under significant competition pressures in the past few years as Chinese companies have continued launching new models and gaining market share. Some of its top competitors are companies like BYD, SAIC, Nio, and Li Auto.
The next key catalyst for the TSLA stock price will be the upcoming earnings report that comes out on Wednesday.
Analysts expect these results to show that its revenue jumped in the second quarter after its strong deliveries. It produced 450,000 vehicles in the quarter and delivered 480k. This was a big turnaround after the company made 408k vehicles and delivered 358k.
One possible reason for the rebound is that gasoline prices jumped in the second quarter as the US-Iran war escalated. In most periods, a surge in gasoline prices pushes more people to buy EVs, which are often cheaper to maintain.
The average estimate among analysts is that the company’s revenue will come in at $26.36 billion, up by 17.20% YoY. For the year, analysts estimate that its revenue will jump by 10% to $104.5 billion.
In addition to the rising competition, the company is also seeing elevated costs, especially in the data center industry.
TSLA stock chart | Source: TradingView
The daily chart shows that the TSLA stock price has slumped in the past few months, moving from a high of $498 to the current $380. It has recently dropped below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA).
The Percentage Price Oscillator (PPO) has moved below the zero line and is pointing downwards. Notably, it is hovering slightly above the ascending trendline that links the lowest swing since April last year.
Therefore, the most likely scenario is where the stock drops further, potentially to $350 after earnings. On the other hand, a rebound above $400 will point to more upside.
XPENG zahájil testování robotaxi pro zaměstnance a označil to za klíčový milník na cestě od chytrých elektromobilů k autonomním vozům. Firma plánuje zkušební provoz a pravidelné demonstrační služby v roce 2026.
, /PRNewswire/ -- XPENG has officially started employee testing of its Robotaxi platform, marking a major milestone in the company's journey from intelligent electric vehicles to autonomous vehicles powered by Physical AI. The programme follows just eight months after XPENG first unveiled its Robotaxi initiative at XPENG AI Day 2025, reinforcing the company's rapid progress towards commercial deployment.
To mark the occasion, XPENG Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng became the first internal passenger to complete a full end-to-end Robotaxi journey, successfully placing an order, being picked up and reaching his destination through the XPENG Robotaxi platform. The test demonstrated that the company has successfully connected the entire service chain, from ride hailing and autonomous dispatch to passenger transport and journey completion.
The employee testing programme was announced during XPENG's first company-wide Robotaxi business meeting, where He Xiaopeng outlined the strategic importance of autonomous mobility to the company's future development.
"Robotaxi represents an important step in XPENG's expansion from smart electric vehicles to robotic vehicles," said He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPENG. "Over the next decade, Physical AI will increasingly evolve into robots. For XPENG, Robotaxi is not simply a new business, but one of the most important milestones in unlocking the real potential of Physical AI."
From Smart EVs to "Robotic Vehicles"
As autonomous driving advances from driver assistance to full autonomy, XPENG believes vehicles will increasingly become intelligent robotic platforms capable of perception, reasoning and decision-making.
Powered by XPENG's self-developed Turing AI chip, VLA2.0 AI model and proprietary infrastructure, Robotaxi represents one of the company's most complete Physical AI applications to date, bringing together its advances in intelligent vehicles, autonomous driving and embodied AI into a single platform.
Built for Global Scale
He Xiaopeng also used the meeting to outline its long-term Robotaxi strategy. Rather than operating ride-hailing fleets itself, the company intends to serve as a technology provider and ecosystem enabler - supplying the software, hardware and AI capabilities required for autonomous mobility, while working with local partners to deliver services on the ground.
Leveraging the same technology foundation underpinning both its L2 intelligent driving and L4 autonomous driving systems, XPENG's Robotaxi platform is designed for rapid deployment across different cities and markets without relying on LIDAR heavy architectures or high-definition maps.
"The second-generation VLA model's ability to generalise across different environments significantly reduces the cost and complexity of deployment," said Candice Yuan, Head of XPENG Robotaxi.
Following the launch of employee testing, XPENG plans to complete trial operations and establish regular demonstration services during 2026, using Guangzhou as a model city to develop operational experience that can be replicated globally. The company confirmed it is already exploring potential Robotaxi partnerships across Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
About XPENG
Founded in 2014, XPENG is a leading AI-driven mobility company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Smart EVs, catering to a growing base of tech-savvy consumers. With the rapid advancement of AI, XPENG aspires to become a global leader in AI mobility, with a mission to drive the Smart EV revolution through cutting-edge technology, shaping the future of mobility. To enhance the customer experience, XPENG develops its full-stack advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) technology and intelligent in-car operating system in-house, along with core vehicle systems such as the powertrain and electrical/electronic architecture (EEA). Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG also operates key offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and Amsterdam. Its Smart EVs are primarily manufactured at its facilities in Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province. XPENG is listed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: XPEV) and Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX: 9868).
, /PRNewswire/ -- XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or the "Company,"NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868), a leading global AI mobility technology company, today announced its vehicle delivery results for June and the second quarter of 2026.
XPENG delivered 40,126 vehicles in June 2026, bringing total second-quarter deliveries to 103,295 units. Additionally, deliveries of GX reached 6,739 units in June and the model's 10,000th unit rolled off the production line today.
The Company expects to debut the XPENG MONA L03 in China on July 2, 2026, with presale to commence the same day, followed by a global market launch in July.
XPENG's electric vehicles delivered from January to June 2026 are expected to reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2.66 million tons compared to internal combustion engine vehicles — equivalent to the carbon absorption of 43.92 million young trees over 10 years.
About XPENG
XPENG is a leading Chinese Smart EV and NEV company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Smart EVs and NEVs that appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers. Its mission is to become a smart technology company trusted and loved by users worldwide. In order to optimize its customers' mobility experience, XPENG develops in-house its full-stack advanced driver-assistance system technology and in-car intelligent operating system, as well as core vehicle systems including powertrain and the electrical/electronic architecture. XPENG is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with main offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Silicon Valley, Amsterdam, and Munich. The Company's Smart EVs and NEVs are mainly manufactured at its plants in Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province. For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about XPENG's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: XPENG's goal and strategies; XPENG's expansion plans; XPENG's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the trends in, and size of, China's EV market; XPENG's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; XPENG's expectations regarding its relationships with customers, suppliers, third-party service providers, strategic partners and other stakeholders; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in XPENG's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and XPENG does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
