Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) has extended the availability of its XNGP Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) to customers in 27 more cities, intensifying the competition among local car companies vying for leadership in smart driving technologies.
Xpeng’s announcement revealed that the XNGP feature is now accessible in a total of 52 cities, including prominent locations such as Tianjin, Chengdu, Xi’an, Wuhan, and Changsha. Notably, the company aims to achieve nationwide coverage in 200 Chinese cities by early 2024, making it the first automaker to offer ADAS coverage on such a comprehensive scale.
According to He Xiaopeng, Xpeng’s Chairman and CEO, achieving nationwide ADAS coverage with low cost, high safety levels, and superior customer experience marks a significant milestone in the company’s technology roadmap toward mass adoption of autonomous driving.
The XNGP system is categorized as a full-scenario ADAS, designed to provide driver assistance across diverse driving environments, encompassing highways, city roads, intra-park roads, and parking lots. Xpeng has made enhancements to various ADAS features through its latest Over-the-Air (OTA) update, aiming to deliver a safer, smoother, and more comfortable smart driving experience for owners.
The system, initially launched as Highway NGP and later expanded to urban areas as City NGP, is optimized to adapt to the distinct driving scenarios prevalent in different cities. Xpeng’s strategy involves gradually expanding coverage to additional cities and regions, with a goal to make XNGP available on all roads in China’s major cities by the end of 2024.
While Xpeng pursues its ambitious ADAS expansion, rival electric vehicle manufacturer Nio (NYSE: NIO) recently announced progress in its NOP+ (Navigate on Pilot Plus) ADAS. Nio reported NOP+ reaching 319,821 city kilometers of coverage in China, exceeding its increased target of 250,000 kilometers. The competition between Xpeng and Nio in the realm of ADAS reflects varying approaches to expanding coverage, with Xpeng emphasizing city-based expansion, while Nio prioritizes road verification based on mileage.
As Chinese automakers continue to innovate in the smart driving space, the evolution of ADAS technologies is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of autonomous driving adoption.
