XPeng Robotaxi Enters Employee Testing Phase as CEO Takes First Ride

XPeng (XPEV) has officially launched internal employee testing of its robotaxi platform, with chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng becoming the first user to complete a full end-to-end journey on July 9. The milestone comes just eight months after the company announced its robotaxi initiative at XPENG AI Day 2025. The move signals XPeng’s strategic pivot from smart electric vehicles to autonomous mobility solutions powered by its proprietary Turing AI chip and VLA2.0 AI model.

From announcement to testing in eight months

XPeng moved rapidly from announcing its robotaxi plan in November 2025 to launching employee testing in July 2026. The company began regular road testing in January 2026, rolled the production vehicle off the line in May, and now has the full service chain operational. CEO He Xiaopeng said this pace exceeded initial expectations. The robotaxi is built on XPeng’s flagship GX SUV model and engineered to L4 autonomous driving standards.

How the robotaxi works and what’s next

The system allows users to open their phones, hail an XPeng robotaxi, and complete a full journey autonomously. He Xiaopeng described the process as seamless, from placing the order downstairs from the office to reaching his destination. The company plans to expand testing to internal users, local Guangzhou residents, and out-of-town visitors soon. XPeng acknowledged that large-scale rollout is a long-term process requiring continued progress on safety, experience, and generalization capabilities.

XPeng’s strategy: technology export over fleet operations

Unlike competitors building proprietary fleets for ride-hailing services, XPeng is pursuing a technology export model. The company aims to become an end-to-end robotaxi technology provider, delivering integrated hardware and software solutions to global partners. XPeng announced this strategy during its first company-wide robotaxi business meeting on July 10. The focus is shifting away from operating its own fleet to accelerating global deployment through partners.

Stock performance and investor outlook

XPEV trades at $13.03 as of July 11, down 35.8% year-to-date. Meyka rates the stock a B with a 12-month forecast of $25.30, suggesting 94% upside from current levels. However, the company faces headwinds: negative net income per share of -$4.72 TTM, a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, and an RSI of 40.10 indicating oversold conditions. The robotaxi milestone demonstrates execution capability, but profitability and cash flow generation remain critical tests for long-term viability.

Final Thoughts

XPeng’s robotaxi milestone shows execution speed, but the stock remains deeply unprofitable with weak fundamentals. Meyka’s B grade and $25.30 forecast suggest potential, yet the company must prove it can scale profitably and compete globally in autonomous mobility.

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