Xpeng Unveils the World’s First AI-Defined Car

Intelligent mobility in China Xpeng Unveils the World’s First AI-Defined Car

2024-11-15 By Henrik Bork Henrik Bork * | Translated by AI 3 min Reading Time

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Xpeng itself calls it "the world's first AI-defined car." The new model "P7+" was launched in China on November 7. It is a purely electric, spacious sedan over five meters long, which tries to stand out from the competition primarily through its "intelligent" AI-supported software in driver assistance and the cockpit.

Xpeng itself calls it "the world's first AI-defined car." The new model "P7+" was launched in China on November 7.(Image: Xpeng) — Xpeng itself calls it "the world's first AI-defined car." The new model "P7+" was launched in China on November 7.
(Image: Xpeng)

Like no other startup entrepreneur, Xpeng founder He Xiaopeng, who has also become one of Volkswagen's most important partners, bets on the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence (AI). One day before the much-anticipated launch of his new model in China, He Xiaopeng—Xpeng being an abbreviation of his first name—confidently laid out his vision for the future of mobility in a speech at the "Xpeng AI Day." In summary, it looks something like this: It may take a while for a new technology to change the world, but AI is such a technology, and he wants to position his company as the ultimate pioneer for the new category of AI-defined cars.

Natural voice control

For the P7+, which is now on sale in China and will be delivered shortly, He Xiaopeng, who enjoys an Elon Musk-like rockstar status in China, promises a particularly good ADAS driving assistance system at level 2 of autonomous driving, enhanced by AI, and a particularly natural voice control in the cockpit, also thanks to AI.

Although a driver must still be present for autopilot and can only take their hands off the wheel in certain situations, the control of the car is said to be particularly precise due to artificial intelligence. The AI also elevates the safety and energy efficiency of the vehicle to a new level. The braking distance is only 35 meters (114.8 ft), and thanks to its energy efficiency, it can travel ten kilometers with one kilowatt-hour. Another advantage is that the AI allows the car to "learn" every two days. The updates are delivered wirelessly over the air, as stated by Xpeng in its show.

Autopilot dispenses with lidar

The autopilot, developed by Xpeng itself along with many other components, operates without Lidar in its hardware, shifting to the model of "pure perception" with cameras, sensors, and millimeter-wave radar, similar to Tesla's approach. This reduces production costs. Unlike many competitors, subscriptions are not required for the autopilot.

"In traditional cars, 'premium' was defined by design and certain features, but in the era of AI-defined vehicles, true premium quality is inseparable from intelligent technology," explained He Xiaopeng at the launch of his new vehicle. The notoriously critical car reviewers at "Top Gear" in England, who discussed the car after its debut at the Paris Auto Show, were initially unimpressed. For now, they could only confirm that indeed 33 small carry-on suitcases fit into the trunk when the backseat is folded down, stated Top Gear. As for the wonders of AI, they have to wait until the car can actually be tested in England.

That could soon be the case, as Xpeng explicitly wants to launch the P7+ in Europe as well.

Successful market launch

The market launch in China was quite successful. In the first twelve minutes after the official launch, 10,000 orders had already been placed. A day later, there were already 31,528 orders. Some German premium manufacturers don't sell that many electric vehicles in China even in three months.

Partly, this good start is related to the price. The P7+, which is offered in three different variants depending on the power of its electric motor, costs between 186,800 and 218,000 yuan, which is approximately 24,300 to 28,400 euros (25.600 to 29.950 USD). This is very affordable for an upper-middle-class sedan with Nappa leather and, as mentioned, a lot of new technology and the promise of driving into the AI era of mobility on four wheels.

*Henrik Bork, General Manager of Asiawaypoint, Beijing, PR China

Automated driving without Lidar but with XNet, XPlanner, and XBrain – that's what the company announced on its AI Day. (Image:Xpeng)

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