XPENG Launches “YOYO” Robotaxi
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XPENG’s autonomous driving technology has been getting better and better (see Larry’s real-world experiences with the technology in recent weeks here, here, and here). Going further down that road, XPENG has just launched a robotaxi model, YOYO.
We don’t know a ton about this model yet, but there are some pictures we can peruse, and then a few more notes about it from XPENG.
Looks quite a lot like a Kia EV9, with slightly modified styling. It does look a bit sportier than an EV9, though.
“XPENG’s Robotaxi has officially announced its brand name ‘XPENG YOYO.’ On the same day, the XPENG YOYO autonomous driving online registration was opened to the public in China through invitation codes, and a dedicated page went live on XPENG’s official website. This marks the transition from technical validation into a new stage of marketization and industrialization. Going forward, XPENG YOYO will operate with a clear brand identity and commercial positioning, providing operation services to users and partners.
“Built on its in-house Turing AI chips, VLA2.0 large model, and AI infrastructure, XPENG is extending the AI capabilities accumulated in the automotive field further into Robotaxi, bridging L2 intelligent driver assistance and L4 autonomous driving. Based on this technology path, XPENG Robotaxi has rapidly completed the critical leap from R&D, mass production, and full-chain validation to public access within this year. This technology route, entirely different from that of traditional L4 companies, is accelerating toward commercial validation with real users and in real operation scenarios.”
If you’re wondering about the name “YOYO” and whether the famous toy was in mind when coming up with that name, I can’t tell you that for sure, but markets around the world were in consideration, and a yo-yo does typically go out and come back. “The English name ‘XPENG YOYO’ was chosen for greater brand recognition in global markets,” the company noted. “Short and easy to pronounce, the name maintains strong consistency in communication across various language environments, providing unified brand recognition for XPENG Robotaxi as it enters global markets in the future.”
Here’s also a bit more background and history on XPENG’s relatively recent robotaxi ventures: “In May 2026, XPENG’s mass-produced Robotaxi rolled off the production line in Guangzhou, completed the full chain from online ride-hailing to automated pickup and drop-off in July. In August, XPENG obtained Guangzhou’s remote testing qualification for intelligent connected vehicles, enabling to conduct road tests without a safety operator in the driver’s seat on the relevant Class I, II, and III test roads in Guangzhou.
“Previously, XPENG Robotaxi launched paid internal testing at just 1 renminbi per ride, primarily to validate the payment process and service workflow. With the official launch of the online registration, Robotaxi experience has gradually expanded from employees to external users, further validating product and operational capabilities in real scenarios and preparing for the next phase of operations.”
I’ll be honest — I’m not even sure what this next line means: “XPENG Robotaxi is China’s first fully in-house developed Robotaxi to achieve pre-loaded mass production.” Pre-loaded mass production? Google tells me that “Pre-loaded mass production refers to manufacturing a product with core software, hardware, or functional components permanently fitted, flashed, or integrated directly at the factory assembly line rather than added or retrofitted later.” Ah, I see…. So, yeah, XPENG has been working hard to develop various key components in-house and is integrating everything — hardware and software — together in one production process (whether the components are built in-house or by suppliers). Here are more details again: “Each XPENG Robotaxi is equipped with four in-house Turing AI chips delivering 3,000 TOPS, which is the world’s highest in-vehicle compute. Powered by XPENG’s VLA2.0 large model, it operates without HD maps or LiDAR, and can be rapidly deployed across different cities and environments.”
As far as the actual user experience (which always seems like a final topic after talking about the tech of robotaxis), even critics would have to admit that all of this sounds very good: “The riding experience has been optimized: users can preset cabin temperature and activate the fragrance system via the online registration before boarding. Inside, zero-gravity seats, massage functions, and a large entertainment screen with integrated content services extend autonomous driving from ‘getting people to their destination’ to ‘delivering a more comfortable journey.'”
It would be very interesting to check out this robotaxi in person and see how it operates. Perhaps Larry will go on another trip soon and ride in one in China or elsewhere.
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