XPeng plans to license EV and AI tech to foreign automakers

Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng plans to offer its technology solutions to foreign automakers beyond its current partner Volkswagen, according to sources reported by Reuters on 17 September 2026. The company is in talks with potential partners that include global car manufacturers, software developers, and automotive suppliers.

XPeng aims to license its electrical and electronic architecture, cockpit systems, Turing AI chips, and advanced driver assistance software. The initiative also covers licensing and customisation for robotaxis, robotics, and other physical artificial intelligence applications. About six months ago, the company created a strategic commercialisation team to explore new technology partnerships based on its work with Volkswagen.

Volkswagen bought a 4.99% stake in XPeng for around $700 million in July 2023. Their first jointly developed vehicle, the ID.UNYX 08 electric SUV, entered mass production in March 2026. In the second quarter, XPeng remained unprofitable as vehicle profit margins fell to 12.1% from 14.3%. However, services and other revenue nearly doubled, pushing the segment margin to 75.1% from 53.6% a year earlier, driven by research and development services provided to Volkswagen.

CEO He Xiaopeng stated that humanoid robots could eventually generate significantly higher profit margins than vehicles. The company rolled out its general-purpose humanoid robot, IRON, earlier this month, targeting mass production by late 2026 and commercial deliveries in 2027. XPeng also surpassed 100,000 cumulative overseas vehicle sales since entering Norway in 2020, and unveiled the G9L SUV on Thursday, which will be built by Magna in Austria alongside the G6, G9, and P7+.