- XPeng CEO announced approximately 13.8 billion investment in chips making and aims for mass production in 2026
- XPeng’s humanoid robot IRON stands 1.73 meters tall, weighs 70 kilograms, and features 60 joints with 62 degrees of freedom
- Powered by XPeng’s proprietary Turing AI chip with 3,000 trillion operations per second capacity, IRON uses advanced AI models including reinforcement learning
- Currently deployed in XPeng’s EV manufacturing lines for precise assembly tasks, IRON is intended for broader use in retail, healthcare, offices, and homes,
XPeng, the renowned Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, is set to make a bold leap into robotics with plans to begin mass production of its humanoid robot, IRON, by the end of 2026. Revealed at XPeng’s AI Day in November 2024, IRON symbolizes the company’s vision of extending AI mobility and autonomy beyond cars into versatile robotic helpers for industrial, commercial, and potentially household uses.
IRON: The New Face of Humanoid Robotics
Standing at approximately 1.73 meters tall and weighing around 70kg, IRON is engineered to mimic human movement with remarkable fluidity and precision. With 60 articulating joints and 62 active degrees of freedom, the robot’s mechanical design allows agile, dexterous motion enabling it to perform complex tasks requiring balance, grasping, and manipulation.
At its core is XPeng’s proprietary Turing AI chip, a 40-core processor capable of handling an extraordinary 30 billion AI parameters, empowering IRON with the computational muscle for real-time perception, decision-making, and autonomous navigation.
Current and Future Use Cases
Currently undergoing rigorous real-world testing on XPeng’s factory floors in Guangzhou, IRON assists in assembling electric vehicles, automating repetitive and labor-intensive tasks while enhancing precision and efficiency. Beyond manufacturing, XPeng envisions IRON serving as a reliable assistant in retail environments, healthcare facilities, office spaces, and even homes, capable of taking on varied responsibilities from customer service to personal aid.
XPeng plans an ambitious investment of about $13.8 billion over the next two decades to drive humanoid robotics development and scale IRON’s production to meet market needs.
"We strongly believe that humanoid robots will become a key mode of transportation in the future"
- He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPENG
The Road Ahead
XPeng’s entry into humanoid robotics, powered by advanced AI and a deep integration with its automotive technology stack, signals a pivotal shift in industrial automation and intelligent mobility. With IRON, XPeng aims to pioneer a future where robots not only complement human workers but become indispensable partners in everyday life across multiple sectors.
About the author
