What’s Happening
Chinese smart EV leader, XPENG, has recently announced that their XPENG G9 SUV has obtained the coveted Guangzhou Intelligent Connected Vehicle Passenger Test Permit. This permit extends to all general testing roads in Guangzhou, setting the stage for an exciting development in the world of autonomous driving.
Why It Matters
With the issuance of the permit, XPENG is poised to introduce Robotaxi autonomous driving passenger testing service to all users in the Huangpu District of Guangzhou. Slated to roll out in the second half of 2023, the service promises to transform the public’s interaction with autonomous vehicles. Users will have the convenience of hailing a G9 Robotaxi via a mini-program app on WeChat, further integrating autonomous transportation into their daily lives.
Key Points
Back in November 2022, the XPENG G9 made waves as the first mass-produced vehicle to achieve autonomous driving capabilities. This was done not through hardware modifications but via software upgrades, signaling a shift in the industry’s approach to autonomous vehicles.
The G9 autonomous driving road test vehicles sport the same hardware suite as their commercial counterparts, featuring sensors for perception, computing, and vehicle control systems. The G9 also boasts enhanced capabilities for Robotaxi-related scenarios.
This no-modification approach for the G9 Robotaxi has led to significant cost reductions in R&D, mass production, and maintenance, marking a novel strategy for large-scale Robotaxi utilization and commercialization.
Furthermore, XPENG’s G9 Robotaxi fleet will advance its performance, stability, and generalization ability more effectively, thanks to a data closed-loop. This, along with the data gathered from mass-produced vehicles, will considerably enhance the volume and variety of training data collected from real-world operation.
Bottom Line
The G9’s autonomous driving system features China’s first and only mass-produced BEV (Bird’s Eye View) perception technology, XNet. This technology offers real-time 360° panoramic environmental perception of surrounding road conditions, including traffic participants, signs, lane markings, and drivable space. As XNet continues to mature, users will enjoy autonomous driving experiences in more cities and scenarios, unrestricted by high-precision map areas. This development by XPENG is a significant step forward in the journey towards widespread autonomous driving.
