Tesla rival XPeng plans new vehicles and targets a future in robots and flying cars -
Levin - 09-09-2021
PUBLISHED WED, SEP 8 2021 11:16 PM EDT UPDATED 3 MIN AGO
Arjun Kharpal
GUANGZHOU, China — For the foreseeable future, Chinese electric car start-up XPeng is trying to boost its sales in the world’s largest auto market.
But the Guangzhou, China-based company is also exploring areas including robotics and flying cars, which could play a role in its longer-term goals.
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Earlier this year, XPeng showed off a second prototype of a flying passenger car which it says has been in development for eight years. And on Tuesday, it took the wraps off a four-legged “robotic unicorn,” as it pushes into new areas of business.
“With the development of technology, the form of mobility will evolve from wheels to wings, propellers, 4 legs or 2 feet,” He said, according to a CNBC translation of his Mandarin-language comments. “Technology should help people have better and happier lives. This has always been my goal.”
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A number of auto companies including Hyundai and China-based Geely are developing aerial vehicles. Other firms like Guangzhou-based EHang are also working on passenger drones.
Interview video and more at:
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/09/chinas-xpeng-and-future-of-electric-vehicles-robots-and-flying-cars.html