XPENG-W (09868) has achieved a key milestone in its intelligent driving strategy with the official launch of its second-generation VLA system on March 2. During the release event, CEO He Xiaopeng handed over three new vehicles equipped with the upgraded autonomous driving system to XPeng owners. The second-generation VLA represents a comprehensive enhancement over its predecessor, featuring improved environmental perception, smarter decision-making capabilities, and smoother vehicle control performance. This launch signifies a major breakthrough in XPENG-W's technical architecture, strategic planning, and product ecosystem within the autonomous driving sector, positioning the company to potentially become a defining force in China's intelligent driving technology paradigm.
He Xiaopeng stated that end-to-end small models have reached their performance limits, describing the current phase as a "watershed moment" for autonomous driving development. The second-generation VLA fundamentally restructures the model paradigm through two parallel development approaches: one ensures baseline performance delivering L2++ capabilities, while the other dedicates 30,000 computing cards and over 2 billion RMB in R&D resources to explore the ultimate L4 experience, bringing driverless technology closer to reality.
Initially announced in November 2025, the second-generation VLA system is described as capable of "internal reasoning," simulating different response strategies for various driving scenarios. The enhanced system will introduce multiple new functions, including "Small Road NGP," which improves intervention intervals on complex narrow roads by 13 times. The system has also developed new capabilities such as recognizing pedestrian gestures to stop when signaled and understanding traffic light logic to slowly creep forward when red lights are about to turn green.
XPENG-W's Senior Director of Autonomous Driving Products recently revealed that mass production of the second-generation VLA is imminent. Vehicles equipped with the system have passed third-party testing sites, officially obtained Guangzhou's intelligent connected vehicle road test permit, and are currently conducting regular L4-level public road tests. The XPENG GX model has already demonstrated complete closed-loop operations including starting from stationary positions, autonomous driving, roadside temporary stops, and passenger pickup without driver intervention or high-definition maps in campus environments.
This achievement indicates that the second-generation VLA system, driven by end-to-end large models, possesses autonomous operation capabilities in complex urban scenarios without maps or human intervention. Leveraging its integrated hardware-software advantages, XPENG-W continues to lead in intelligent driving technology. The launch of the second-generation VLA not only represents successful implementation of the company's AI strategy but also helps build a strong "brand + technology" value barrier, establishing a foundation for long-term development.