Xpeng VP Dismisses Elon Musk’s Vision for Robotaxis, Emphasizes Safety and Extensive Testing

In a recent showcase at a mall in Beijing, Xpeng’s G9 electric vehicle caught the attention of many onlookers. During the event, Xpeng Vice Chairman and Co-President Brian Gu made a statement that self-driving taxis may not become a significant business for at least the next five years. This prediction contradicts Elon Musk’s vision of Tesla developing artificial intelligence software for a robotaxi network.

Despite the potential future benefits of robotaxis, Gu believes that launching a full-fledged commercial operation will take more time than expected. He stated that Xpeng is not currently planning to introduce this service. The company has positioned itself as a leader in driver-assist technology in the market, and Gu emphasized the importance of extensive testing before implementing any autonomous driving services.

Other Chinese tech companies like Baidu and Pony.ai have received approval in certain areas of China to operate fully driverless taxis and charge fares, including locations in Beijing and Wuhan, which are seen as hubs for testing new technologies in the autonomous driving sector. This highlights the importance of rigorous testing before introducing any new autonomous driving services to ensure their safety and efficiency.