Gasgoo Munich- XPENG Chairman He Xiaopeng believes 2027 will mark the dawn of commercialized mass production for high-end humanoid robots, according to an interview seen by Gasgoo.
He views robots as the key platform for "Physical AI," featuring inherently high software value. Once capability thresholds are crossed, their scaling speed could far exceed that of automobiles.
XPENG has chosen the challenging path of developing general humanoid robots closest to the human form. To achieve this, the company restructured its team to focus on using AI, rather than traditional software engineering, to drive robot intelligence and motion control.
He predicts that starting in 2027, Physical AI will begin to transform the workplace much like Digital AI, offering significant assistance—and in some cases, replacing roles entirely.
Image Source: XPENG Motors
According to local media outlets, XPENG recently convened a mass production mobilization meeting for its robotics division. Nearly 1,000 employees from centers spanning automotive, powertrain, manufacturing, testing, and general intelligence attended.
Three key executives attended the meeting: He Xiaopeng, Vice President Gu Jie, and LC Mi, head of the robotics center. This gathering signals that XPENG's robotics business has officially entered the final phase toward mass production.
Reports indicate He Xiaopeng outlined a critical timeline. He expects mass production of humanoid robots by the end of 2026, with deployment in XPENG offline stores as shopping assistants by Q1 2027. He emphasized that XPENG's robots are fully self-developed, from chips to operating systems and from joints to dexterous hands. This makes XPENG the only company in China with full-stack proprietary robotics technology. The company argues that this significant upfront investment will yield superior quality, aesthetics, and capability.
