Gasgoo Munich- Here are this week’s key developments in embodied intelligence and assisted driving:
D-Robotics and Independent Variable Forge Strategic Partnership
Gasgoo Auto learned that on May 28, D-Robotics and Independent Variable struck a strategic partnership. Focusing on home scenarios, the two will push Independent Variable’s next-generation embodied intelligence foundation model onto Digua Robot’s high-performance, on-device AI computing platform, the Xuri S600. The goal is a deep adaptation and deployment, jointly creating a software-hardware integrated solution to accelerate the mass entry of service robots into households.
The Xuri S600 is Digua Robot’s flagship high-computing chip built for embodied intelligence. Adopting a mature multi-core heterogeneous architecture, it boasts 560 TOPS (INT8) of robust AI computing power and industrial-grade hardware reliability. It not only efficiently supports end-to-end inference for complex large models but also meets the stringent requirements of home environments for low latency and high reliability.
As a top player in the embodied robot field, Independent Variable is actively pushing robots into home settings. Previously, it partnered with 58.com to deploy robots equipped with the WALL-AS model into real homes, working alongside cleaning staff. This marked the world’s first instance of robots entering homes to serve complex human domestic lives—a milestone also representing the first large-scale deployment of robots in complex consumer environments.
Image Source: Independent Variable
On April 21, Independent Variable further launched its "New Generation Robot for Home" plan and began recruiting the first batch of "parents" for home-going robots. According to the plan at the time, 35 days later, a new generation of robots—equipped with the proprietary WALL-B embodied intelligence foundation model and upgraded hardware for home environments—would move into the homes of these initial users.
WALL-B is an embodied intelligence foundation model based on a unified world model architecture. By placing capabilities such as vision, language, action, and physical prediction within a single network and training them jointly from scratch, it effectively eliminates boundaries and information loss between modules.
Recently, this batch of robots has begun moving into real homes, kicking off an "internship" period as embodied intelligence enters daily life.
To better integrate robots into the home ecosystem, Independent Variable recently announced a joint venture with Holike: Guangdong Zhimiliangbian Robot Co., Ltd. Holike’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangzhou Laimi Technology Investment Co., Ltd., holds an 80% stake, while Independent Variable Robot Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. holds 20%.
Leveraging Holike’s service reach to nearly 100,000 home decoration users annually, its national channel network, and its leading proprietary connection technology and full-chain ecosystem layout, this collaboration is expected to bring embodied intelligence to a much broader user base.
Editor’s Note: In the critical phase of commercializing embodied intelligence, cooperation is the only path to win.
XPENG Robotics Enters Mass Production Sprint
On May 27, Gasgoo Auto noted reports that XPENG Group recently held a mass production mobilization meeting. Nearly 1,000 employees from centers including automotive, power, manufacturing, testing, and general intelligence attended.
Reportedly, three core executives—He Xiaopeng, Vice President Gu Jie, and Robotics Center Head LC Mi—attended. The meeting marks the official entry of XPENG’s robotics business into the sprint phase for mass production.
According to reports, He Xiaopeng clarified key timelines at the meeting: mass production of humanoid robots by the end of 2026, and entry into XPENG’s offline stores as shopping guides in the first quarter of 2027. He emphasized that XPENG Robotics is the only company in China with full-stack proprietary capabilities, spanning chips, operating systems, joints, and dexterous hands. The high upfront investment, he argued, will yield higher quality, better aesthetics, and more comprehensive capabilities.
Image Source: XPENG Motors Weibo
He Xiaopeng stated, "We are today at a stage equivalent to XPENG Motors eight years ago." At that time, XPENG had just completed the launch and mass delivery of its first car, the G3. Now, the robotics team is replicating that path.
Regarding capacity, the construction of XPENG’s humanoid robot mass production base began in February this year in Guangtang Science and Technology Innovation City, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. Covering approximately 110,000 square meters, it will support full-chain scaled production.
Editor’s Note: When XPENG Robotics achieves large-scale mass production, its growth curve moves one step closer to commercial reality.
01EV Files for Hong Kong IPO, Adding Another Player to the Smart Heavy Truck Race
Gasgoo Auto learned that on May 28, Jiangsu 01EV Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "01EV") formally submitted an application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for a listing on the Main Board. Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC and Haitong International Capital Company Limited are acting as joint sponsors.
Image Source: 01EV
The prospectus shows that 01EV positions itself as a provider of smart and autonomous heavy truck solutions. Since its inception, it has adhered to a vertically integrated, full-stack proprietary development route. Its self-developed "01 Autonomous Driving System" uses an end-to-end multimodal large language model (MLLM), which reportedly reduces the complexity of key systems by approximately 95% and lowers data annotation costs by about 95% compared to the industry average.
At the core hardware level, 01EV’s self-developed "Jushi" four-in-one electric drive bridge integrates the motor, gearbox, drive axle, and power take-off, reducing vehicle weight by over 200 kilograms and achieving a maximum system efficiency of 94%. Additionally, it is the first company in the industry to mass-produce a multi-source heat pump vehicle-level thermal management system, saving up to 70% energy compared to traditional PTC heating in environments of -20°C. Frost & Sullivan data indicates that the transmission efficiency of its electric drive bridge and the energy efficiency of its thermal management system lead among mass-produced products.
Commercially, 01EV is growing rapidly. In 2025, it delivered 1,176 new energy smart heavy trucks, becoming the fastest emerging new energy heavy truck enterprise to achieve annual sales exceeding 1,000 units. By the end of 2025, cumulative deliveries reached nearly 1,500 units. From January to April 2026, sales hit 778 units, with new orders totaling 1,002 units, a year-on-year increase of 334.6%.
Financial data is improving in tandem. Revenue surged from 1.163 million yuan in 2023 to 124 million yuan in 2024, and further to 522 million yuan in 2025—a roughly 448-fold increase over two years. The gross loss margin narrowed from 287.2% in 2023 to 2.5% in 2025, approaching the break-even point. Disclosures show operating cash flow turned positive in the fourth quarter of 2025.
R&D spending remains high. From 2023 to 2025, R&D expenses were 71.42 million yuan, 116 million yuan, and 126 million yuan, respectively, with the R&D expense ratio reaching 24.1% in 2025.
Notably, 01EV completed a total of $400 million in financing in March and May of this year. Investors include industrial capital and international long-term funds such as CATL, Temasek, Momenta, NIO Capital, Zijin Mining, Yankuang Capital, Moutai Investment, and Sanhua Holding, forming multi-dimensional ecological synergies in autonomous driving technology, supply chains, and charging/swapping networks.
01EV stated it will continue to accelerate vehicle forward development and autonomous driving algorithm iteration while advancing scaled commercial deployment. The progress of this IPO will offer the market a window into the commercial maturity of the smart heavy truck forward development path.
Editor’s Note: The IPO is side-proof that the L4 heavy truck commercialization model is working.
Keenon Robotics Unveils Compact Humanoid Robot XMAN-L1
On May 26, Gasgoo Auto learned that Keenon Robotics officially released the compact humanoid robot XMAN-L1.
Reportedly, the robot stands 136 cm tall, is equipped with 42 bionic degrees of freedom, has a peak knee joint torque of 132 N·m, single-leg power exceeding 2,000 W, and on-device computing power of 100 TOPS. It also connects to large models like Doubao and Tencent, supporting natural language dialogue.
As a lightweight interactive role in Keenon’s "General + Specialized" matrix, the XMAN-L1 targets scenarios such as interaction, passenger guidance, and light performance, and is ready for work immediately upon release.
Image Source: Keenon Robotics
Founded in 2010, Keenon Robotics is a global general and specialized embodied humanoid robot company. Relying on a full-stack proprietary technology system and a "R&D - Smart Manufacturing - Supply Chain" closed-loop industrialization capability, it has built the industry’s most comprehensive product matrix, covering humanoid robots, delivery robots, and cleaning robots.
As the service robotics enterprise with the largest scale of commercial deployment globally, Keenon has a cumulative shipment volume exceeding 100,000 units, with business covering full ecosystem scenarios such as catering, hotels, medical care, elderly care, factories, and supermarkets. With its own intelligent production base and global operation network, Keenon’s products are sold in over 600 cities across more than 70 countries and regions. It has subsidiaries or offices in the US, Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, and other locations, along with over 80 global operation centers.
Editor’s Note: Curious about the price tag of the XMAN-L1.
LinkerBot Acquires Jingling Zhikang: Aiming to Slash 300k Yuan Bionic Hands to 30k
Gasgoo Auto learned that LinkerBot has recently completed the strategic acquisition of the Jingling Zhikang team. The two will engage in deep collaboration around intelligent bionic hands, rehabilitation aids, and human-machine interaction, with the goal of pushing high-performance bionic hands from "customization for the few" to "universal access."
LinkerBot is a leading player in the dexterous hand field, with an industrial foundation in high-degree-of-freedom hands, control systems, and mass manufacturing. Its Linker Hand series covers a wide price range, from 6,000 to 100,000 yuan, and is currently widely used by top general robot manufacturers and global top-tier research institutions.
Image Source: LinkerBot
Although Jingling Zhikang is a newcomer, it has solid accumulation in ergonomic adaptation, force control interaction, and rehabilitation scenario engineering. Song Zhiwei, co-founder and CEO of Jingling Zhikang, is a veteran of the AI industry, having previously held positions at Lenovo, Asus China, and Ingram Micro China, with deep experience in strategic management, business operations, and marketing, as well as a global perspective.
The R&D team led by co-founder and CTO Zhu Zitao has core members from Professor Chen Wenming’s team at Fudan University. They possess mature technology and practical experience in biomechanics, humanoid tactile sensing, exoskeletons, array motor bionic actuation, natural human-machine force control interaction, real human body motion modeling, and the engineering implementation of civilian rehabilitation scenarios.
This merger can be seen as a complementarity of "hardware mass production capacity" and "public welfare rehabilitation implementation capability." LinkerBot fills Jingling Zhikang’s gap in mass manufacturing, while Jingling Zhikang opens up real-world rehabilitation scenarios for LinkerBot.
Particularly regarding the price of intelligent bionic hands, for a long time, imported units have cost between 300,000 and 500,000 yuan, while domestic products are over 100,000 yuan—prices the vast majority of families with disabled members cannot afford.
Zhou Yongming, founder of LinkerBot, explicitly stated that relying on full-chain proprietary R&D and scaled manufacturing, the company will push the price of high-end bionic hands into the 30,000 to 50,000 yuan range, with the potential to drop below 10,000 yuan within the next three years. Meanwhile, products will focus on improving tactile feedback, wearing comfort, and ease of operation.
If this pricing structure can be implemented while maintaining stable profits, intelligent bionic hands will truly transform from high-end medical equipment into mass consumer goods, potentially redefining the competitive logic of the entire rehabilitation assistance track.
Editor’s Note: The "price pain" of dexterous hands has long been the threshold for the large-scale commercialization of humanoid robots.
