Xpeng is reimagining mobility

«We are a technology company,» says Jacky Gu, Vice President of Xpeng, summing it up. The brand, which offers four attractive car models in this country, is much more than just another automaker from China. Founded as recently as 2014, Xpeng now employs 36,000 people worldwide, nearly 45 percent of whom work in research and development. ’We’re thinking five to ten years ahead. We produce ultra-fast chips, flying cars, drones, and robots, and now we want to gain a foothold in the field of physical AI as early as possible.«

Xpeng’s pace of development is particularly impressive: In just thirteen years, the company went from its first transport drones to flying cars, and in only eight years, from a robot dog that was still a bit wobbly on its feet to the humanoid «Iron,» which appears remarkably human-like in its movements and when shaking hands. “Controlling movements—whether for robots or vehicles—is extremely important for their safety and that of their surroundings, just as much as the power supply,” explains Jacky Gu.

At the same time, he demonstrates just how much Xpeng vehicles benefit from these technological advancements in robotics and drones. «We need batteries with higher energy density, especially for our robot, Iron. Over 300 Wh/kg at the cell level, or even a torque density (>400 Nm/L) at the robot’s joint,» says Gu. «In a car, you normally only need 80, but for robots and drones, higher values and significantly better efficiency are necessary.»

It makes sense and is impressive at the same time—just like the fact that Xpeng can use standard GX models straight off the assembly line for its robotaxi fleet, rather than special vehicles. «We don’t need LiDAR or high-resolution maps. We process the car’s camera images using our AI model VLA 2.0, which—thanks to its enormous capacity—ensures we don’t lose any data and have a response time of less than 80 milliseconds,» explains Xianming Liu, head of the General Intelligence Center.

«After all, when the driver is in autonomous mode, we don’t want to wake them up in tricky situations. The car has to be able to handle everything.» To prove his point, he immediately shows a video of himself and company founder and CEO He Xiaopeng testing the capabilities of autonomous driving on European roads. This Next Generation Pilot (NGP) takes driver assistance to a new level and is set to be rolled out worldwide as early as 2027.

Three Questions for Diego Battiston, the Swiss Head of Xpeng

Mr. Battiston, Xpeng is rapidly expanding its presence in Switzerland as an innovative, high-tech car brand suitable for everyday use—at «China Speed,» so to speak. How dense is the network supposed to be?
Diego Battiston, CEO of Hedin Distribution AG: Our partner dealerships are carefully selected and authorized Xpeng partners throughout Switzerland. At the end of August, we will also be opening the new, official Xpeng import facility in Samstagern, Zurich. Just like the flagship store in Dielsdorf, Hedin Automotive’s spacious showroom here provides the ideal setting for our brand and its models. Not far from Zurich, customers can get a firsthand look at Xpeng and schedule test drives to experience the mobility of the future today. Hedin Automotive’s dealerships are known for excellent customer care and outstanding service—a perfect fit for Xpeng, one of the world’s most exciting car brands today. We also have a presence in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino, and our goal is to have a location within a 30-minute drive for every Swiss resident as soon as possible.

With Chinese brands, models that have already been on the road in China for a year or two often make their way to Europe. Is that also the case with Xpeng?
No, we launch our products for the global market. There are no such delays, so European new cars do not feature outdated battery technology or software.

Customers are often a bit more skeptical when it comes to a new brand. What guarantees do you offer in Switzerland?
We offer continuous over-the-air updates, the highest security standards, a vehicle warranty of up to seven years or 160,000 km, and a battery warranty of eight years or up to 160,000 km. Xpeng stands for quality that impresses—and trust that lasts.