XPeng, once considered to be in the "ICU," has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past year, with many now viewing it as having moved directly from the "ICU" to the "KTV." However, He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPeng, believes the company is far from reaching the "KTV" stage. Still, the consensus both within and outside the industry is that XPeng is "getting better."

On November 21, XPeng celebrated the rollout of its one-millionth vehicle—the XPeng X9 Super Range Extended Edition. It took the company 82 months to produce its first 500,000 vehicles, but only 14 months to double that figure, securing XPeng’s place in the "million-vehicle club."

The day before, the XPeng X9 Super Range Extended Edition officially launched with a starting price of RMB 309,800, significantly lower than the pre-sale price range of RMB 350,000–370,000. This aggressive pricing reflects XPeng’s push into the "dual-energy" (hybrid powertrain) strategy. The vehicle also boasts competitive features in range and intelligence.

With a CLTC-rated range of 1,602 km (including 452 km on pure electric), the X9 Super Range Extended Edition offers strong performance. In terms of intelligence, the Max version is equipped with one Turing chip (750 TOPS), while the Ultra version packs three Turing chips (2,250 TOPS). The vehicle will also feature the second-generation VLA (Virtual Learning Architecture) physical world model. By Q1 2026, XPeng plans to roll out the second-gen VLA for Ultra models, with Max models following later in the year.

The pricing strategy quickly gained market traction. Although specific order numbers were not disclosed, He Xiaopeng revealed that within one hour of launch, the X9 Super Range Extended Edition surpassed the previous single-day order record for the X9 series. Orders from northern China accounted for over half of total demand, with the Ultra version making up 79%.

He Xiaopeng admitted that he had pushed internally five times for the development of range-extended vehicles, citing challenges in markets where charging infrastructure was insufficient. To expand globally, XPeng needed a more flexible energy solution.

The X9 is just the beginning. During an earnings call, He Xiaopeng disclosed that XPeng will launch seven range-extended models next year, with three "Super Range Extended" models debuting in Q1 2026. This signals a major product offensive for XPeng in the coming year.

Beyond automobiles, XPeng is also venturing into embodied AI. The recently unveiled humanoid robot, IRON, has been seen as a key factor in XPeng’s revaluation by the capital markets. Additionally, XPeng’s Robotaxi and flying car projects have made further progress.

These developments briefly propelled XPeng’s market capitalization past rivals like Li Auto and Geely. However, He Xiaopeng remains unfazed by stock fluctuations, emphasizing a long-term vision: "Building cars is an endless marathon. To become a global tech company, we must look further ahead—today’s joys and pains are just fleeting moments in the journey."

Despite the optimism, uncertainty looms. He Xiaopeng acknowledged that every automaker is navigating cautiously, much like a year ago when few predicted the current state of China’s auto market. "The only certainty is that competition in 2026 will be even more brutal and bloody," he said.

One immediate challenge is the soaring cost of AI training. "Next year’s AI training expenses have already reached a staggering figure," He Xiaopeng noted, adding that future strategies must address this financial burden.

Yet, XPeng’s current concerns differ from past struggles. The company has undergone significant restructuring since 2022, strengthening its technological, commercial, global, and organizational capabilities.

From pure electric to range-extended vehicles, and from cars to robots, XPeng is redefining its boundaries at the one-million-vehicle milestone. He Xiaopeng’s vision is clear: to transform XPeng into a "global embodied AI company."

However, balancing investment and returns, dreams and reality, remains a critical challenge.

**Key Excerpts from the Interview:**

**On Market Capitalization Surpassing Rivals:** He Xiaopeng: "I don’t pay much attention to stock prices. The auto industry is a never-ending marathon. I focus on the long game—how to compete beyond just price, quality, and performance."

**On Global Expansion:** XPeng’s top-selling overseas models are the G6 and G9, with strong sales in Europe and the Middle East. Last month, overseas deliveries hit 5,000 units.

**On Profitability & Future Strategy:** He Xiaopeng expressed confidence in achieving profitability in Q4. He emphasized four core competencies: technology, commercialization, globalization, and organizational strength.

**On AI & Robotics:** XPeng’s humanoid robot, IRON, is designed for high affinity, making it more approachable for users. The company aims to commercialize humanoid robots soon.

**On 2026 Market Outlook:** "The only certainty is fiercer competition," He Xiaopeng reiterated. "The auto industry is a long marathon, but in the hardware-software era, the gap between leaders and followers will widen."

**On Pricing Strategy for X9 Super Range Extended Edition:** He Xiaopeng admitted the pricing decision was tough but necessary to attract traditional fuel-car users and those in regions with poor charging infrastructure.

**On Future Product Roadmap:** XPeng will adopt a flexible "dual-energy" strategy, with most future models offering both pure electric and range-extended variants.

**On Challenges Ahead:** Soaring AI training costs and the need for sustainable investment strategies remain key concerns.

**Final Thought:** He Xiaopeng prefers to be called simply "Xiaopeng," reflecting his grounded approach amid XPeng’s ambitious transformation.