Xpeng's Vice Chairman Dismisses Robotaxis as Lucrative Business for Next Five Years
Xpeng's Vice Chairman and Co-President, Brian Gu, stated that self-driving taxis won't be a significant business for at least five years, despite Elon Musk's promotion of Tesla's AI software for a robotaxi network. Gu mentioned that Xpeng, a China-based electric car startup, is not considering robotaxis in their sales planning, as they are focusing on driver-assist software. He also highlighted that there will be a lot of testing and interest in showcasing technology in China, where companies like Baidu and Pony.ai have received permission to charge fares for fully driverless taxis in certain areas.
Key Takeaways
- Xpeng's Vice Chairman predicts that self-driving taxis won't be a significant business for at least five years, differing from Elon Musk's vision for Tesla.
- Xpeng, a China-based electric car startup, is focusing on driver-assist software and doesn't currently plan to launch and plan sales for robotaxis.
- The company believes there will be a lot of testing before the widespread commercialization of robotaxis, emphasizing milestones and technology showcasing.
- Chinese tech companies like Baidu and Pony.ai have received permission to charge fares for fully driverless taxis in certain areas of China.
- The development and commercialization of robotaxis in China are in progress, with a focus on driver-assist software and gradual testing of the technology.
Analysis
The divergence of Xpeng's strategy from Tesla's vision on self-driving taxis signals potential challenges for the commercialization of robotaxis. The focus on driver-assist software could impact Xpeng's competition with Tesla and other self-driving technology players. Additionally, China's advancement in autonomous vehicle testing, highlighted by Baidu and Pony.ai, underscores the country's determination to lead in this sector. In the short term, Xpeng's approach may lead to slower revenue growth, while China's continued progress in driverless technology could shape the global standard for autonomous vehicles in the long term.
Did You Know?
- Xpeng's Vice Chairman predicts that self-driving taxis won't be a significant business for at least five years, differing from Elon Musk's vision for Tesla.
- Xpeng, a China-based electric car startup, is focusing on driver-assist software and doesn't currently plan to launch and plan sales for robotaxis.
- The development and commercialization of robotaxis in China are in progress, with a focus on driver-assist software and gradual testing of the technology.