XPENG IRON Humanoid Robot Now Walks Off the Production Line

Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) will launch its 5-seat G9L SUV in China on September 17, with pre-sales starting at 259,800 yuan. The company aims to exceed 60,000 monthly sales in Q4 with new models. August deliveries were 39,107, up 3.71% year-on-year. The G9L competes with Li Auto's (NASDAQ: LI) Li L7 and Aito M7.

XPeng, a Chinese EV maker, has commissioned production lines for its IRON humanoid robot, aiming for mass production by late 2026. The company plans commercial deliveries in 2027, with initial deployments in its own stores and campuses. XPeng secured over $900 million in financing for its robotics arm, valued at over $6.3 billion post-investment, to support development and expansion. The company leverages its automotive manufacturing experience and designs its own AI chips for the robot.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan for the EV industry aims for 70% of passenger-car sales and 40% of commercial-vehicle sales to be NEVs by 2030, with several Chinese carmakers ranking among the world's top 10. The plan also targets consolidation, strict control of new EV manufacturers, and the exit of inefficient capacity. BYD is the only Chinese carmaker currently in the global top 10.

XPeng, a Chinese EV maker, has begun producing its IRON humanoid robot using an automated line. The facility automates over 80% of core processes. Mass production is targeted for late 2026, with deliveries planned for 2027. This follows a funding round that valued the robotics unit at over $6.3 billion. XPeng aims to leverage its automotive manufacturing expertise for humanoid robot production.

Tesla (TSLA) and XPeng (XPEV) are advancing humanoid robot production. Tesla reportedly ordered components for 5,000 Optimus robots, while XPeng launched an automated production line for its IRON robot. Both companies are shifting focus from technology to manufacturing, aiming for large-scale production by 2026.

XPeng (XPEV) ADRs rose 3% while Li Auto (LI) shares fell over 3% in pre-market trading after both reported Q1 earnings. XPEV reported revenue of RMB13.03B ($1.89B), a net loss of RMB1.78B, and improved margins. LI reported revenue of RMB23B ($3.3B), a net loss of RMB2.3B, and declining margins. Both companies' revenues declined year-over-year but exceeded expectations.