Xpeng’s robotaxi business, Xpeng Yoyo, has secured approval to begin Level 4 autonomous driving trial operations across Guangzhou. The move marks a significant step for the company as it transitions from internal testing to broader real-world trials.
Citywide Trial Approval for Xpeng Yoyo
Xpeng announced that its robotaxi business, Xpeng Yoyo, has received the green light to conduct Level 4 autonomous driving trial operations throughout Guangzhou. This approval grants the company qualification for intelligent connected vehicle demonstration operations, allowing citywide L4 robotaxi trials.
Candice Yuan, head of Xpeng’s robotaxi business, shared that access to the service will initially be expanded through invitation codes. The gradual rollout is designed to steadily increase service coverage while maintaining a focus on safety.
Development Timeline and Technology
Xpeng’s journey toward public robotaxi service began with a permit for intelligent connected vehicle road testing in Guangzhou in January. The company established a dedicated robotaxi division in March, and its first production robotaxi rolled off the assembly line in May. In July, chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng became the first passenger during the initial internal test ride.
The Xpeng robotaxi is based on the company’s flagship GX SUV and is engineered to meet Level 4 autonomous driving standards. Notably, the vehicle uses a vision-only approach, forgoing LiDAR and high-definition maps. It is equipped with four in-house Turing AI chips, providing a combined computing power of 3,000 TOPS. Driving decisions are managed by Xpeng’s second-generation Vision-Language-Action (VLA 2.0) large model.
Brand Launch and Future Plans
The Xpeng Yoyo brand name was officially unveiled on October 8. Xpeng has outlined plans to scale its robotaxi business through partnerships with ride-hailing platforms, aiming to refine its product experience and service systems through daily operations.
Why this matters
Xpeng’s approval to conduct Level 4 robotaxi trials in Guangzhou represents a notable advancement in autonomous vehicle deployment within China. The move allows the company to test its technology in real-world conditions and gather operational experience as it prepares for broader commercialization.
What this means for buyers
Buyers and industry watchers interested in autonomous driving developments can look to Xpeng’s progress in Guangzhou as an indicator of how quickly robotaxi services may become available in other regions. Those considering future mobility options may want to monitor how Xpeng’s technology and service model evolve as the trials expand.
Key Specs
- Trial Approval: Level 4 autonomous driving in Guangzhou
- Robotaxi Platform: Based on Xpeng GX SUV
- Autonomous System: Vision-only, no LiDAR or HD maps
- AI Chips: 4 in-house Turing AI chips, 3,000 TOPS
- Decision Model: Vision-Language-Action (VLA 2.0) large model
- Brand Launch Date: October 8, 2026
- Initial Access: Invitation codes
Images sourced from: cnevpost.com
