Xpeng Motors is making significant strides in its quest to become a global AI-driven automotive powerhouse. In a recent all-hands meeting at the Shanghai R&D Center, CEO He Xiaopeng emphasized the importance of leveraging the center’s strengths in talent, globalization, and AI technologies to propel the company forward.
At the heart of Xpeng’s technological advancement is the soon-to-be-integrated Turing chip. Developed by a team of over 200 specialists stationed at the Shanghai R&D Center, this chip represents a major leap in Xpeng’s autonomous driving capabilities. The Turing chip, designed for L4 autonomous driving, boasts a 40-core processor capable of running large models with up to 30 billion parameters.
The chip’s impressive specifications don’t end there. It supports two independent ISPs, ensuring clear vision even in challenging conditions such as nighttime driving, rain, or backlighting. This feature is crucial for maintaining safety and reliability in autonomous vehicles.
While Xpeng’s primary R&D operations, including the Internet Center, Data Intelligence Center, and Autonomous Driving Center, are based in Guangzhou, the company is strategically enhancing its presence in Shanghai. This decision is driven by Shanghai’s rich ecosystem of new energy vehicle companies, Tier 1 auto suppliers, and a deep pool of technical talent.
Xpeng’s chip team has been actively recruiting from multiple chip companies and continues its hiring efforts. This aggressive talent acquisition strategy underscores the company’s commitment to building a world-class team capable of pushing the boundaries of AI and autonomous driving technologies.
Xpeng’s fully upgraded XNGP system is a testament to the company’s technological prowess. The system emphasizes “nationwide usability” and delivers high-level autonomous driving experiences powered by an end-to-end large model and the AI Eagle Eye vision system.
By July 2024, the XNGP system had achieved full coverage across all Chinese cities, marking a significant milestone in its evolution from being merely “usable” to truly “user-friendly.” Xpeng aims to complete a “door-to-door” autonomous driving solution, covering highways, urban roads, and parking, by the end of 2024.
In August 2024, Xpeng unveiled its AI Eagle Eye vision solution, a game-changer in the autonomous driving landscape. This system upgrades front, rear, and side cameras while eliminating the need for LiDAR, all while maintaining comparable intelligent driving performance. The AI Eagle Eye improves perception distance, recognition speed, and adapts to various lighting conditions, significantly enhancing the precision and safety of intelligent driving.
Xpeng is betting big on its technological leadership. With bi-weekly updates to its intelligent driving system and a laser focus on nationwide deployment, including the neural network XNet, the control model XPlanner, language model XBrain, positioning itself at the forefront of China’s autonomous driving revolution.
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