XPeng HK shares rose 4% and ADRs jumped 8% in overnight trading, as the Chinese electric vehicle maker made two significant announcements that showcased its technological prowess and expansion plans in the autonomous driving sector.

In a major move, XPeng revealed a partnership with Alibaba's digital mapping arm, Amap, to build a global robotaxi service network. This collaboration will integrate XPeng's autonomous vehicles into Amap's mobility platform, potentially accelerating the company's entry into the lucrative robotaxi market. XPeng's chairman and co-founder, He Xiaopeng, stated that Amap will become XPeng Robotaxi's first global ecosystem partner, with plans to jointly provide robotaxi services on a global scale. The company aims to deploy three self-developed robotaxi models and commence trial operations as early as next year.

Adding to the positive sentiment, XPeng unveiled its next-generation humanoid robot, IRON, at the 2025 XPeng Tech Day in Guangzhou. The advanced robot features human-like characteristics, including a biomimetic spine, flexible skin, and dexterous hands with 22 degrees of freedom. XPeng's ambitious goal to achieve mass production of high-end humanoid robots by late 2026 signals its commitment to diversifying beyond the electric vehicle market. This move into the rapidly growing robotics sector could open up new revenue streams for the company, further boosting investor confidence.