There is a company called ‘Tesla of China’.
Xiaopeng, well-known as a Chinese electric vehicle startup, is the main character. Since its launch in 2014, it has grown into the «Big 5» of Chinese electric vehicles along with BYD, Nio, and Rioto in 10 years. Based on its success in China, the world’s largest electric vehicle market, it is aiming to enter overseas markets such as Korea. It has now become China’s representative ‘Big Tech’ that manufactures flying cars and humanoid robots beyond electric vehicles. Chairman and CEO He Xiaofeng, who is called «Elon Musk of China,» is the head of the company that has led Xiaofeng. Maeil Business Newspaper was the first Korean media to hold a written interview with Chairman Heo to hear about Xpeng’s core technologies, business plans, and China’s future high-tech industries. The following is a question and answer with Chairman Huh.
사진 확대 -The mid-sized electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) G7, launched in June, is being called an «artificial intelligence (AI) car» and is gaining considerable popularity. What is the differentiated technology that only Xpeng has.
▶Xiaopeng is making a leading achievement in the field of autonomous driving. I think I am in the process of gradually developing to a higher level of level 3 or level 4. This allows consumers to experience safer and more flexible autonomous driving. Above all, we are confident that the continuous learning of the AI model (ultra-large AI platform) will lead to the continuous growth of autonomous driving performance. Currently, Xiaopeng Turing AI Driving System based on the AI model has been established, and it has developed its own fields from cloud, model, chip, and hardware. Among them, Nvidia in the U.S. is an important partner in the chip sector. We will continue to work closely with Nvidia in many areas. Xpeng’s Turing AI chip will be applied to smart cars, humanoid robots, and flying cars simultaneously for the first time in the world. It will cooperate with leading technologies to provide the best autonomous driving experience.
-Starting with BYD, many Chinese electric vehicles are speeding up their entry into overseas markets such as Korea. To name a major competitive edge of Chinese electric vehicles.
▶ China’s electric vehicle development is in line with the global trend in terms of electricity and standardization. First of all, China is at the forefront of the world in electrification technology, which has laid a solid foundation for standardization. In addition, China is the world’s largest automobile market. Consumers are rapidly embracing new technologies and there is considerable demand for smart functions such as autonomous driving. I’m willing to pay for it as well. These characteristics are the core competitiveness of Chinese electric vehicles.
-The Chinese government has pointed out the phenomenon of «卷 (bleeding competition)» in various industries, including electric vehicles, and has started to come up with countermeasures. What are the views on this.
▶I think it’s very right direction. The electric vehicle industry should move away from price competition to technology and quality competition. This can gradually turn the industry ecosystem into a healthy competition. In particular, it should be able to provide real value to consumers through the application of core technologies such as AI and autonomous driving. The industry hopes to avoid malicious competition and realize a «win-win» through differentiated positioning, R&D, and quality improvement.
사진 확대 -Xpeng is also active in developing humanoid robots. What are the future plans for the robot business.
▶The follow-up model of the previously introduced humanoid robot ‘IRON’ will be released in the fourth quarter of this year and mass-produced next year. We have already been conducting related research for five years. This field is expected to require investment of at least 50 billion yuan to 1 trillion yuan (9 trillion to 19 trillion won) over the next 20 years. Iron, equipped with its own Turing AI chip, implements environmental awareness, autonomous walking, logical reasoning, and dialogue, and has already been deployed to the Guangzhou plant to handle logistics, transportation, classification, and assembly.
-China’s humanoid robot industry is growing rapidly. Imagine how humanoid robots will be used in China in the next 5 to 10 years.
▶If technology advances further in the future, humanoid robots are expected to reach level 4 and perform a wide range of complex and collaborative tasks. In other words, only a minimum number of people are needed to oversee them. Ultimately, the humanoid robot enters Level 5. In other words, robots will reach the level of general-purpose artificial intelligence (AGI) and ultra-artificial intelligence (ASI) and operate fully autonomously in accordance with laws and regulations.
-It has been nicknamed ‘Elon Musk of China’ in line with its success in the electric vehicle market and challenges in new fields such as humanoid robots. How do you feel.
▶Tesla founder Elon Musk is an entrepreneur I respect very much. This comparison can be seen as a figurative expression of China’s entrepreneurial spirit by the public. These nicknames are good, but the important point is what long-term value we can create for consumers, industry, and society. Xiaopeng’s top priority is to thoroughly implement technology development and quality improvement within the boundaries of the law to distribute «smart mobility» to numerous homes around the world.
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