In a bold move at its global new product launch on January 8, 2026, XPeng unveiled four refreshed 2026 models—P7+, G7 Super Extended Range, G6, and G9—powered by second-generation VLA (Visual-Language-Action) physical AI for L4 autonomy, alongside Robotaxi road tests looming. Chairman He Xiaopeng declared 2026 the 'true year of full self-driving' for China and the US, with XPeng pushing Tianji AIOS 6.0 and VLA updates starting March. This comes amid Xiaomi's $200B R&D pledge, Zeekr's massive L3 license, and supportive AI chip news, signaling China's EV sector's explosive AI-driven surge.
XPeng's Physical AI Leap: Second-Gen VLA Ushers in L4 Era
XPeng's second-generation VLA ditches traditional language translation, enabling direct physical world understanding and decision-making. Trained on nearly 1 billion video segments (equivalent to 65,000 years of human driving), it leverages 2,250 TOPS onboard compute and 30,000-card cloud clusters to conquer 'long-tail' scenarios like construction zones, narrow alleys, and hand gestures.
Key L2-to-L4 upgrades:
- Capability: 10x average takeover-free mileage
- Coverage: Hu tongs, neighborhoods, complex urban roads
- Comfort: Seamless city driving without hesitation
- Efficiency: 'Dedicated car' level traffic flow
Demos showcased detour overtakes, slow merges, and parking. Robotaxi with VLA passed third-party tests and eyes public roads soon, sharing the same stack as consumer models for scalable L4 rollout. Tianji AIOS 6.0 adds proactive cabin AI with 3D lane-level navigation and global multilingual support.
New 2026 Models: Extended Range Kings with Global Reach
XPeng launched these in 36 countries, blending super extended-range (EREV) and pure EV options to banish range anxiety. Highlights include record CLTC figures and 5C fast-charging (10-80% in 12 minutes).
| Model | Version | Powertrain | Key Specs | Price (CNY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P7+ | 1550 Max | Super EREV | 430km pure EV, 1550km total, 10.9kWh/100km | 18.68-19.88万 |
| P7+ | 725 Max | Pure EV | 725km range | 18.68-19.88万 |
| G7 | 1704 Max | Super EREV | 430km pure EV, 1704km total (world's longest SUV) | 19.58-20.58万 |
| G6 | 625 Max | Pure EV | Upgraded tech | 17.68-18.68万 |
| G9 | 725 Max | Pure EV | 680km 4WD option | 24.88-27.88万 |
P7+ boasts 88% space efficiency (725-2221L trunk), zero-gravity seats, and dual 5-star safety (China/EU). Ultra trims pack 2,250 TOPS Turing AI chips. Incentives: Up to 12,000 CNY subsidies, free power credits through March 2026.
Broader Chinese EV Ecosystem Heats Up
- Xiaomi's Ambition: CEO Lei Jun vows 200B CNY R&D over five years, targeting 2026 'grand convergence' of self-developed chip, OS, and AI model on one device—2/3 of 2025 awards were AI-driven.
- Zeekr 9X Milestone: Gains Hangzhou's full-city L3 test license (largest area/mileage in China), backed by 1,400 TOPS Haohan H9 (dual Thor chips, 5 LiDARs). Prices: 46.59-59.99万 CNY.
- Chip Boost: China eyes Q1 approval for select Nvidia H200 AI GPUs, easing training bottlenecks.
- Ecosystem Plays: Alibaba Cloud's multimodal kit adapts to 30+ chips (ARM/RISC-V); Zhipu AI hits 58.6B HKD market cap post-IPO, GLM-5 incoming.
Mercedes' new GLC EV (4933mm, dual motors up to 300kW, CATL battery) signals global response to Chinese prowess.
Why This Matters: Global Implications for EV and Autonomy
XPeng's VLA positions China as L4 frontrunner, challenging Tesla/Waymo with scalable, region-agnostic Robotaxi. 2025 deliveries surged 126% to 429k units across 60 markets, fueling 'global rooting'. Amid US$350B Anthropic raise and OpenAI's $1T ambitions, China's self-reliant AI (RISC-V push, H200 thaw) accelerates decoupling while Xiaomi/Zeekr amplify volume. This AI-EREV nexus redefines affordability—20万 CNY cars with 1,700km range—pressuring legacy automakers worldwide.
Looking Ahead: 2026 as Tipping Point
March VLA rollout and Robotaxi tests kick off XPeng's L4 scale-up, with G7/P7+ exports testing global appeal. Watch Xiaomi's trifecta device and Zeekr's L3 deployment for market share battles. China's EV giants are betting big on physical AI to own the autonomous future—expect price wars, faster adoption, and Western ripples.
