Gasgoo Munich- At a media briefing following the launch of the XPENG GX, Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng joined Liu Xianming, head of the General Intelligent Center, and Wu Anfei, general manager of the product matrix, to address industry concerns, according to Gasgoo.
As adoption rates for LiDAR rise among models priced above 150,000 yuan, He dismissed pressure on XPENG to abandon its pure-vision approach. LiDAR, he argued, is no longer a necessity in the automotive sector—a stance the company holds firmly—though it retains value in other industries. Liu added that whether LiDAR is essential depends on each manufacturer's technological path; there is no universal answer. For consumers, the core of autonomous driving lies in the actual experience, not sensor specifications. The effectiveness of XPENG's LiDAR-free solution hinges on the performance of its second-generation VLA model in extreme weather, darkness, and complex conditions. Even without LiDAR, high computing power, large models, and high-density sensors can deliver superior results.
On May 21, XPENG announced that the GX secured 24,863 firm orders within 12 hours of its debut. Unveiled on May 20, the GX is XPENG's first full-size technology flagship SUV. It offers both pure electric and super range-extender powertrains across eight configurations, with a limited-time starting price of 269,800 yuan.
Image source: XPENG
As China's first fully self-developed, pre-installed mass-production Robotaxi prototype, the GX brings robotaxi-level intelligent driving capabilities to the mass market. In terms of computing power, the vehicle boasts up to 3,000 TOPS of effective computing power, enabling physical-world AI algorithms, multi-sensor fusion, and real-time interaction with traffic conditions. On the software side, the second-generation VLA model supports campus roaming and can navigate obstacle avoidance in heavy rain, dense fog, and low-light conditions. By fusing VLA with VLM, the system enables voice control—allowing users to command turns, acceleration, or even execute vague instructions like "park the car near the elevator." Additionally, the second-generation VLA features autonomous parking in highway service areas, requiring no human intervention throughout the process.
