Chinese electric automaker XPeng reportedly announced plans on March 31 to enhance its advanced driver assistance software (ADAS) and offer it to customers throughout China by next year.
The move appears to be part of the automaker’s wider effort to compete with its American competitor Tesla.
XPeng to integrate its ADAS into two flagship models
Chinese media reports that XPeng plans to launch its Tesla FSD-like ADAS in its two flagship electric models.
For those unaware, Tesla launched its Full Self Driving (FSD) system four years ago, but it is yet to be available in China.
Yesterday, XPeng started implementing a new over-the-air update, Xmart OS 4.2.0. It unlocks the first set of features of XNGP, the brand’s new-gen of smart driving systems, to its G9 and P7i.
Timeline
On H1 2023, XPeng will continuously update its ADAS to enable its integrated cars in wider Chinese cities to perform the following:
- react to traffic lights
- avoid obstructions (i.e., construction work, pedestrians, and cyclists)
Meanwhile, additional updates in the second half of the year would offer the following improvements:
- automatically change lanes
- overtake
- left/right turns
As mentioned, the automaker plans to launch the software for customers as early as next year.
Apart from the said additional capabilities, XPeng will also modify its technology to lessen its reliance on maps in future XNGP updates due to regulatory limitations. Instead, the automaker aims to replace it with algorithms and sensors.
See Also:
- Tesla China rival XPeng drops lidar in G9 SUV for competitive pricing
- XPENG G9 SUV secures permit for public road tests for autonomous driving
- XPeng’s 1024 Tech Day 2022: Autonomous driving, neutral net-based architecture, and robotaxi fleet
- XPeng announces City NGP pilot program on P5 EV
- XPENG launches G9 SUV Cabin and Next-Generation Features
This technology is indeed critical for XPeng to increase its car sales, which declined over 40% to 11,228 in January and February 2023.
For comparison, its rival Tesla reported sales of 60,766 units in China, up 43% YoY.
