Xpeng has received approval to conduct Level 4 autonomous driving demonstration operations across Guangzhou, marking a new stage in the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer’s efforts to develop a commercial robotaxi service.
The company announced on Monday that its robotaxi business, Xpeng Yoyo, had obtained authorization for Level 4 autonomous driving trials. The qualification allows the business to carry out demonstration operations across its home city, according to Candice Yuan, head of Xpeng’s robotaxi division.
In a post on Weibo, Yuan said the approval would allow the company to begin expanding its service beyond internal testing. However, the authorization does not mean that robotaxi rides will immediately become available to the general public.
Access to Expand Gradually
Xpeng Yoyo will initially introduce the service through an invitation-code system, with access expanded progressively as operations develop. Yuan said the company intends to increase service coverage while maintaining its focus on safety.
The trial phase will give Xpeng an opportunity to evaluate the service under real-world operating conditions, including the passenger experience and the systems needed to manage daily ride operations.
According to Yuan, the transition is intended to take the robotaxi program beyond technical validation and toward assessing the practical and commercial requirements of an autonomous mobility service.
The company plans to use operational experience to improve its product and service systems. Xpeng also aims to develop solutions that can eventually be replicated and offered to partners in overseas markets.
Xpeng Advances Its Robotaxi Development Program
The Guangzhou approval follows several milestones in Xpeng’s autonomous driving program during 2026.
The company received a permit for intelligent connected vehicle road testing in Guangzhou in January. It established a dedicated robotaxi division in March, creating a separate business structure to advance development of its autonomous ride-hailing operations.
Xpeng’s first production robotaxi rolled off the assembly line in May. Two months later, the company conducted its first internal test ride, with chairman and chief executive He Xiaopeng serving as the first passenger.
He experienced the complete journey from booking a ride online to boarding the vehicle, demonstrating the integration of the booking process with the autonomous driving system.
From Testing Toward Commercial Deployment
The latest authorization gives Xpeng a route to test its robotaxi service through broader demonstration operations. Moving toward commercial deployment will require the company to refine vehicle performance, service management and passenger access as it gathers experience from daily use.
The gradual rollout also means that the service’s immediate availability will remain limited. Xpeng has not indicated that the approval will result in unrestricted public access at this stage.
For Xpeng, the Guangzhou trials represent an opportunity to assess whether its autonomous driving technology can support a repeatable operating model. The experience gained in its home market could inform future expansion, although the timing and scope of deployments elsewhere have not been specified.
