On January 8, He Xiaopeng, the CEO of XPENG Motors, made a notable announcement. He revealed that XPENG's second - generation VLA (Vehicle - Level Architecture) will simultaneously boast L4 autonomous driving capabilities and Robotaxi driverless features. He boldly predicted that 2026 will be the true first year when autonomous driving truly takes off in both China and the US.

He Xiaopeng pointed out that XPENG's second - generation VLA sets itself apart from the existing Robotaxi solutions available in the market. This innovative architecture can comprehend the physical world in a manner similar to humans, thanks to its extensive learning capabilities. This represents a more advanced approach to achieving full - scenario L4 autonomous driving. In the current context, Robotaxis equipped with this cutting - edge software have successfully cleared on - site testing conducted by third - party testing agencies. They are now on the verge of starting public road testing, marking a significant step forward in the development of autonomous driving technology.