Updated
Updated · CNBC · Sep 9
Xpeng to Mass Produce Humanoid Robots by Year-End as EV Margins Sink to 1.5%
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Sep 9

Xpeng to Mass Produce Humanoid Robots by Year-End as EV Margins Sink to 1.5%

3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Sep 9

Summary

  • Xpeng said it will start mass-producing humanoid robots by the end of 2026, deploying them first in its own stores and business venues before a broader China and overseas launch next year.
  • The push comes as China's EV market slows sharply: vehicle manufacturing margins averaged just 1.5% in the first half, while Xpeng shares have fallen more than 45% this year and BYD is down over 13%.
  • Chinese automakers now make up more than half of the nearly 20 global car companies that have entered humanoid robotics, using overlap in motors, chips and software to seek a second growth engine.
  • Xpeng last month raised $900 million for its robotics unit at a valuation above $6.3 billion, but investors remain cautious as external orders are still unclear and analysts say broad humanoid commercialization could take years.

Insights

Are Chinese EV makers building humanoid robots to revolutionize factories, or is this just a desperate ploy to boost crashing stock valuations?
As XPeng and Xiaomi deploy AI robots in factories, will this bold pivot trigger a new global tech war beyond electric vehicles?