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He Xiaopeng

(何小鹏)

He Xiaopeng
何小鹏
He Xiaopeng is a prominent Chinese entrepreneur, currently serving as CEO of AeroHT and Chairman and CEO of XPeng Motors.
A staff member demonstrates a humanoid robot at the Lens Technology booth during the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing on June 22, 2026. Photo: Reuters
Robotics

China’s robot rush: Morgan Stanley raises 2026 forecast to 50,000 units

China’s humanoid robot industry is scaling faster than expected, with Xpeng, Unitree and others accelerating mass production.

Robotics

From cars to humanoids: Xpeng boss takes over robotics unit in ‘strategic pivot’

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s EV giants challenge Tesla in race to commercialise humanoid robots

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese firm Xpeng builds driverless cabs, challenging Tesla’s FSD software

The EV maker has embarked on mass production of robotaxis using its own chips and plans to trial the tech before the end of the year.

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Xpeng’s first robotaxis roll off its production line. Photo: Handout
SCMP Highlights

China’s EV makers to cut charging times; Li Auto’s expansion: 7 EV reads

From BYD’s first-quarter profit to Xpeng’s August goal to overtake self-driving tech in China, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng sets August goal to overtake Tesla’s self-driving tech in China

Carmaker bets on training AI in China’s dense urban roads to build a competitive advantage for expansion into Europe and Southeast Asia.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers bet on in-house chips to make cars smarter and more autonomous

Chinese EV makers are showcasing advanced in-house chips at Auto China, powering smarter vehicles and challenging global tech leaders.

Hesai CEO David Li speaks at the lidar maker’s tech open day in Shanghai, on April 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

EVs | Chinese carmakers gear up for L3 self-driving roll-out

Industry ramps up testing of vehicles with Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities as regulators publish draft safety standards set to take effect in July 2027.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Xiaomi’s new-generation SU7 launch sparks fresh EV fight with Tesla in China

Updated smart sedan debuts with improved safety and smart-driving features, intensifying competition with Tesla and domestic rivals.

Xpeng

Flying car dreams gain altitude as Xpeng affiliate Aridge raises US$200 million

Fresh capital comes as the company ramps up manufacturing of its Land Aircraft Carrier vehicle and pushes towards commercial deliveries.

The Aridge X3-F – the air module for the Land Aircraft Carrier – hovers during its presentation in Dubai in October, 2025. Photo: AFP
Two Sessions 2026

‘Win the future’: top China entrepreneurs commit to Middle East despite Iran war

TCL and Xpeng founders also vow to keep investing in Latin America – despite US intervention in Venezuela this year.

He Xiaopeng, co-founder and CEO of Xpeng, speaks to members of the media before the opening session of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5. Photo: Reuters
CATL

China’s EV battery leader CATL to step up use of AI in R&D: founder

Billionaire Robin Zeng Yuqun promises higher investment, touts ‘resilient supply chain and ecosystem’ driving export growth.

SCMP Highlights

Low-cost models rule China sales; Geely’s bets amid price wars: 7 EV reads

From rising battery costs to Xpeng’s CEO calling to skip a step in self-driving cars, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

Two Sessions 2026

China’s tech leaders urge faster AI, robot adoption in ‘two sessions’ proposals

Tech leaders advocate for rapid AI and robotics growth, calling for policy support to boost industrial use and computing infrastructure.

The focus of China’s “two sessions” will be on the 15th five-year plan from 2026 to 2030, which is expected to prioritise building China’s technological capabilities. Photo: Xiaomi
Electric & new energy vehicles

China should skip a step in self-driving cars, Xpeng CEO says

He Xiaopeng urges Beijing to clear way for a leap ahead in autonomous driving technology – a jump he promises to propose at the ‘two sessions’.

The Next P7, an electric vehicle from Xpeng, appears at the Indonesian International Motor Show in Jakarta on February 5, 2026. Photo: AP Photo
Artificial intelligence

Xiaomi deepens push into chips and AI as peers race to develop humanoid robotics

Xiaomi bets big on core technologies, including operating systems, to position itself as a deep-tech player amid China’s self-reliance push.

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s Geely bets on longer-range, faster-charging tech over fresh EV price war

‘We promise to compete based on technology, quality, brand, service and corporate ethics,’ Geely Auto CEO says.

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Robotics

When a robot topples: China’s Xpeng deals with fallout from humanoid’s plunge

CEO draws parallel to toddlers learning to walk before they run, after Iron’s loss of balance becomes viral fodder.

Staff members assist Xpeng’s Iron robot after its fall during a demonstration in Shenzhen. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

How Tesla’s AI shift is prompting Chinese rivals to expand tech offerings

As Tesla diversifies into humanoid robots and self-driving cars, its Chinese competitors are also moving into flying cars, robots and chips.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng’s flying car unit readies Hong Kong IPO for take-off

Aridge, formerly AeroHT, eyes listing this year as it aims to accelerate its efforts in the low-altitude market, sources say.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng CEO dismisses AI bubble fears, predicts more affordable robots soon

He Xiaoping’s recent trip to the US, where he met more than 30 professionals in the AI field, helped form his conclusions about the industry.

Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng poses for a photograph at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong, April 14, 2025. Photo: Sun Yeung
Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng steps up ‘go global’ drive with Malaysian assembly hub for Southeast Asia

The Guangzhou-based company said it would partner with Malaysia’s EP Manufacturing to locally assemble intelligent EVs.

Workers conduct final checks on an Xpeng new energy car at the firm’s plant in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province, on October 9, 2023. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong

McDonald’s Hong Kong named Company of the Year at SCMP Live’s Business Awards

The restaurant chain’s CEO Randy Lai and chairman Zhang Yichen received the award from SCMP’s CEO Catherine So at an event on Friday.

China-Japan relations

Beijing rebuffs Takaichi, Macron-Xi talks, key economic meeting

This week: China rejects Takaichi’s Taiwan climbdown, Macron visits Xi in Beijing, US deepens Taiwan ties, PBOC slams stablecoins. Next week: economic planning meeting, November trade and inflation data, Hong Kong Legco elections and more.

Made in China 2025

Chinese EV makers accelerate robotics drive for ‘game-changing’ edge over US

Xpeng, Cherry and others expand beyond cars, with humanoid robot Iron winning praise from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Xpeng’s humanoid robot Iron relies primarily on visual data for training and decision-making. Photo: Shutterstock
SCMP Business Awards

Xpeng’s founder headlines SCMP Live’s 2025 Business Awards

The winners of the awards in six categories will be announced on December 12 in Hong Kong.

Pedestrians in Hong Kong’s Central district on February 26, 2025. Photo: Eugene Lee
Made in China 2025

China’s Xpeng posts record revenue as robotaxi and humanoid ambitions take shape

JPMorgan raises Chinese electric-vehicle maker’s price target, citing long-term AI potential.

Robotics

The big reveal: Chinese firm cuts open its robot to prove it’s not human

China’s EV maker stuns social media after its lifelike robot performs so convincingly that many thought it was a person in a costume.

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