XPENG
XPENG is a Guangzhou electric vehicle and AI company, founded in 2014 and led by chairman and chief executive He Xiaopeng, who took direct control of its robotics business in June 2026. On 5 November 2025, at its AI Day in Guangzhou, XPENG unveiled the Next-Gen IRON humanoid, 178 cm tall and 70 kg, with a humanoid spine, bionic muscles, flexible skin, a curved head display and 22-degree-of-freedom hands. It is powered by three in-house Turing AI chips delivering 2,250 TOPS, runs XPENG's second-generation vision-language-action model, uses all-solid-state batteries and works autonomously without remote control. XPENG plans to deploy IRON first at partner Baoshan Iron and Steel for industrial inspection, prioritising commercial service scenarios. In August 2026 its robotics division raised US$900 million at a US$6.3 billion valuation, led by IDG Capital, and XPENG is spinning it into a subsidiary in which it keeps about 82 percent. In September 2026 it opened an IRON production line with more than 80 percent of core processes automated, targeting mass production by end 2026 and deliveries in 2027.
💡Notable Achievement: XPENG unveiled the Next-Gen IRON humanoid on 5 November 2025, raised US$900 million for its robotics unit at a US$6.3 billion valuation in August 2026 and opened an IRON production line in September 2026.
What Does XPENG Do?
XPENG is a Guangzhou EV maker whose robotics unit builds the IRON humanoid on its in-house AI chips.
“A carmaker's humanoid heading for production.”
IRON
178 cm, 70 kg, 22-DoF hands and three Turing chips.
Funding
US$900 million led by IDG Capital.
Production
Line opened September 2026 with year-end mass production target.
What Can XPENG Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Commercial service and industrial inspection.
Industrial Inspection
Planned with Baoshan Iron and Steel.
Commercial Service
First priority scenario.
XPENG Robots
Showing 2 Humanoid Robots of 2 total models
PX5
By: XPENG
Launched: 2023
The XPENG PX5 is a pioneering humanoid robot prototype standing 1.5 meters tall, engineered for advanced bipedal locomotion and dexterous manipulation. Featuring 22 degrees of freedom, including 7-DOF arms with 0.05mm positioning accuracy and ultra-lightweight 430g hands with 11 DOF each, it employs a hybrid rigid-soft drive for versatile grasping up to 1kg grip force and 3kg arm payload. Tactile fingertip sensors enable precise object handling, while shock-resistant joints support stable walking on indoor/outdoor terrains, including grass, rocks, stairs, and obstacle crossing. Demonstrated capabilities include playing football, riding self-balancing scooters, and complex tasks like screwing or pouring. Designed for industrial and retail applications such as factory patrolling and product sales, PX5 integrates AI-driven navigation and balance for over 2 hours of continuous operation, paving the way for human-like robotics in dynamic environments.
Next‑Gen IRON
By: XPENG
Launched: 2025
Next‑Gen IRON is XPENG’s second-generation full-size humanoid robot, designed to operate in human-centered environments with lifelike motion and high dexterity. It features a human-like spine, bionic muscles, flexible synthetic skin, and a 3D curved head display, giving it a more natural appearance and expressive interaction than earlier industrial robots. The robot is powered by XPENG’s in-house AI stack, including multiple Turing AI chips and a vision-language-action model, enabling conversation, walking, and task-oriented behavior. Its dexterous hand design and advanced perception make it suitable for reception, guidance, inspection, and service scenarios.
XPENGSoftware & AI Ecosystem
Developer platforms, fleet management portals, autonomy intelligence, and enterprise integrations
VLA 2.0
Vision-Language-Action Model
XPENG's second-generation model that runs IRON.
XPENGTimeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
XPENG founded
XPENG is founded in China as an electric vehicle and smart mobility company.
Source: cnevpost.com
Next-Gen IRON humanoid unveiled at AI Day
XPENG unveils the Next-Gen IRON humanoid, 178 cm and 70 kg with 2,250 TOPS of in-house AI compute, at its 2025 AI Day.
Source: cnevpost.com
CEO takes direct control of robotics
He Xiaopeng assumes direct control of XPENG's robotics business as it moves towards mass production of IRON.
Source: electrek.co
$900 million at $6.3 billion valuation
XPENG's robotics division raises US$900 million at a US$6.3 billion valuation, led by IDG Capital, ahead of a spin-off subsidiary.
Source: electrek.co
IRON humanoid production line opens
XPENG opens its IRON humanoid production line, with more than 80 percent of core processes automated, ahead of year-end mass production.
Source: cnevpost.com
XPENG Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
What Makes XPENG Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓In-house chips and manufacturing.
- ✓Large recent funding.
Core Strategic Focus
Mass production by end of 2026 and deliveries in 2027.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •No published price.
- •Robotics is separate from its car business.
XPENG vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
| Strategic Dimension | XPENG Robotics (Iron) | Tesla (Optimus Gen 2) | Figure AI (Figure 02) | UBTECH (Walker S2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onboard AI Compute | 2,250 TOPS (3x Turing Chips) | Dual Tesla FSD Hardware | NVIDIA / Embedded High-Compute | Proprietary Industrial Edge AI |
| Battery Chemistry | Automotive Solid-State Battery | Torso Lithium-Ion Pack | 2.25 kWh Lithium Pack | Auto-Swappable Li-Ion Pack |
| Total Degrees of Freedom | 82 Active DoF | 28+ DoF (Excl. Hands) | 35+ DoF (Excl. Hands) | 52 Active DoF |
| Internal Factory Proving Grounds | XPENG Smart EV Plants | Tesla Gigafactories | BMW Spartanburg Plant | NIO, BYD, Geely Plants |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Articles & Industry News
Showing 4 recent articles and news updates about XPENG
XPENG Convenes First Robotics Supply Chain Partner Conference, Signing Production Designation Agreements for Humanoid Hardware
News about Next‑Gen IRON
XPENG Robotics Unveils XPACE: Simulation Platform Training IRON Humanoids via Video Prediction and Synthetic Failure Recovery
News about Next‑Gen IRON
International Broadcasters Spotlight Viral Milestone of Humanoid Robot Autonomously Walking Off Assembly Line
News about Next‑Gen IRON
XPeng Rolls Out First Auto-Grade IRON Prototype
News about Next‑Gen IRON
Robot Comparisons
Showing 7 in-depth comparisons featuring XPENG — Explore all comparisons →
Next-Gen IRON by XPENG vs Jupiter by Zeroth
Which humanoid robot is better? Next-Gen IRON vs Jupiter compared for dexterity, AI autonomy, payload, and industrial use cases.
Next-Gen IRON (XPENG) vs Bolt (MirrorMe)
Compare Next-Gen IRON vs Bolt for humanoid mobility, dexterity, autonomy, and payload capacity in industrial and dynamic use cases.
Next-Gen IRON by XPENG vs Moya by DroidUp
In-depth comparison of Next-Gen IRON by XPENG and Moya by DroidUp, covering hardware capabilities, teleoperation, and enterprise readiness.
L7 by Robot Era vs Next-Gen IRON by XPENG
Head-to-head: L7 vs Next-Gen IRON. Explore differences in speed, sensors, navigation, and AI capabilities.
Next-Gen IRON (XPENG) vs T800 (EngineAI)
Next-Gen IRON or T800? Compare specs, sensors, navigation, speed, and battery life for optimal humanoid performance.
Figure 03 (Figure AI) vs Next‑Gen IRON (XPENG)
In-depth comparison of Figure 03 by Figure AI and Next‑Gen IRON by XPENG. Analyze navigation, battery, sensors, and AI capabilities.
Compare Optimus by Tesla & Next‑Gen IRON by XPENG
In-depth comparison of Optimus by Tesla and Next‑Gen IRON by XPENG. Analyze navigation, battery, sensors, AI, and mobility.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about XPENG
What is the XPENG IRON robot?
IRON is XPENG's humanoid robot, unveiled in its next-generation form on 5 November 2025. It is 178 cm and 70 kg, with 22-degree-of-freedom hands and 2,250 TOPS of in-house AI compute.
When will XPENG mass-produce IRON?
XPENG targets mass production by the end of 2026, with official market launch and customer deliveries in 2027, and monthly capacity above 1,000 units.
How much has XPENG's robotics unit raised?
XPENG's robotics division raised US$900 million at a US$6.3 billion valuation in August 2026, led by IDG Capital with Tencent and Alibaba, and is being spun off with XPENG keeping about 82 percent.
Who leads XPENG's robotics business?
XPENG chairman and chief executive He Xiaopeng took direct control of the robotics business in June 2026, calling it a route to global leadership in physical AI.
Where will XPENG IRON be used first?
XPENG plans to deploy IRON first in commercial service scenarios and with partner Baoshan Iron and Steel for industrial inspection.
What chips does IRON use?
IRON uses three in-house Turing AI chips delivering a combined 2,250 TOPS, plus XPENG's second-generation VLA model and all-solid-state batteries.
When was XPENG founded?
XPENG was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with He Xiaopeng as chairman and chief executive, and it now also builds the IRON humanoid robot.
How much does the XPENG IRON cost?
XPENG has not published a price for IRON. It has released the robot's software development kit so third parties can build on it.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official XPENG datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.