Xpeng chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng has assumed direct leadership of the company's robotics division, aiming to fast-track the launch of its humanoid robot 'Iron' into mass production later this year. This move marks a pivotal moment as Xpeng expands beyond electric vehicles into physical AI applications.
- He Xiaopeng takes helm of Xpeng’s robotics department
- Mass production of Iron humanoid slated for late 2026
- Robots to serve as sales agents and guides in EV showrooms
What happened
Xpeng chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng has directly taken over leadership of the company's robotics division. This leadership change follows the resignation of the previous senior director for product planning and comes just months before Xpeng plans to begin mass production of its humanoid robot, Iron. The CEO has been deeply involved in the robotics unit, dedicating significant personal time over the past year to accelerate progress.
In an internal memo, He described this step as a strategic turning point as the company prepares to commercialize and mass produce the Iron robot by the end of 2026. The initial rollout will place these humanoids in Xpeng EV showrooms, with subsequent customer deliveries planned in China and internationally in 2027.
Why it matters
Xpeng's move represents a significant diversification strategy, expanding beyond electric vehicles into the emerging physical AI and robotics space. By applying its well-established automotive supply chain, manufacturing, and quality control capabilities to robotics, the company hopes to establish leadership in humanoid technology.
The Iron humanoid robot is designed to be highly humanlike and safe for close-range operation, powered by local data and robust safety features. These capabilities aim to differentiate Xpeng’s offering in the competitive robotics market, positioning Iron as an intelligent sales agent and smart tour guide tailored for exhibitions and corporate environments.
What to watch next
Key upcoming milestones to follow include the launch of Iron’s next-generation model, expected to be publicly showcased in the third quarter of 2026, and the transition to mass production targeted for the end of the year. Successful commercialization and customer acceptance will be crucial to validating Xpeng's physical AI ambitions.
Additionally, monitoring how Xpeng manages supply chain scaling, manufacturing quality, and the safe deployment of these humanoids across China and abroad will provide insights into the company's operational execution capabilities. The robotics division's growth will also reveal how effectively the automotive giant can pivot to a broader technology and AI ecosystem.