Xpeng starts robotaxi production, Changan holds L4 licence

Chinese manufacturers are moving autonomous driving from tech demos to serial production. On 18 May 2026, Xpeng announced that the first unit of its mass-produced robotaxi rolled off the line in Guangzhou. This makes Xpeng the first Chinese manufacturer to series-produce such a vehicle.

The car sits on the GX platform and meets level L4 requirements. Four in-house Turing AI chips provide up to 3 000 TOPS of computing power. It drops lidar and detailed HD maps for a vision-only solution, mirroring the strategy in Xpeng's series cars. An end-to-end VLA 2.0 model handles decisions, cutting system reaction latency below 80 milliseconds. Xpeng claims this improves generalisation in cities and enables deployment abroad.

The interior features tinted windows, zero-gravity seats, and rear entertainment screens. A voice assistant manages the settings. Pilot rides are planned for the second half of 2026 to test technical feasibility, passenger acceptance, and the business model. Full autonomous operation without on-site minders is targeted for early 2027.

Changan: from L3 plates to L4 tests

Changan Automotive is building expertise around regulatory milestones. In December 2025, it received China's first special licence plates for level L3 autonomous driving. This year, the company obtained permission to test its own level L4 robotaxi, gaining full rights to test unmanned driving in real conditions.

On 4 September 2026, Changan unveiled Tianzhu Linghang, its fully self-developed driver assistance system. All versions include lidar and use an end-to-end architecture. The system is already in production. Changan also claims full in-house capability for batteries, powertrains, and control electronics. Its battery brand "Jinzhongzhao" won a second state award for scientific and technological progress in 2025.

For European readers, this signals that Chinese firms are not waiting for uniform EU legislation on L3/L4. They are building their own supply chains and gaining experience on a far more permissive domestic market. The gap in regulatory pace is becoming as significant as the gap in car prices.