Chinese OEM Xpeng is reportedly looking for automotive OEMs who might be in the market for its advanced technologies.
Xpeng is already in a technology sharing partnership with Volkswagen, with the Chinese automaker providing R&D services and engineering support to VW. The partnership covers EV platforms as well as vehicle software architectures.
A Reuters report suggested the VW partnership has raised Xpeng profitability at a time when margins on car sales are being dented by intense competition, especially in China.
Among the tech areas that Xpeng has invested in are robotaxis and robotics. It is also said to be very advanced in AI applications and tech.
Xpeng has this week shown its next-gen ‘AI Flagship SUV’ - available in both BEV and REEV versions – the GL9. The G9L will be available in 64 global markets, with a global launch event scheduled on October 12 at Paris Motor Show.
At the GL9 launch event in Beijing, He Xiaopeng, Chairman & CEO of Xpeng, also reviewed Xpeng's latest progress in humanoid robots. The world’s first automated production line for advanced general-purpose humanoid robots was officially commissioned, using "robots to produce robots". He said: "We believe in 'car as robot', over the past few years, we have built an in-house AI foundation based on our work in AI cars and humanoid robots, and it powers both." This, the company said, also explains why the G9L is described as a tech flagship SUV for Xpeng: it runs on Xpeng's ‘industry-leading physical AI technology’.
Fourth model for Magna Graz assembly
The G9L will begin production in both Guangzhou, China, and Graz, Austria. Following the G6, G9, and P7+, it therefore becomes the fourth model to roll off the line at Magna’s plant in Graz, Austria — sharing the same lines and the same factory as European luxury vehicles.
Behind this is what the company describes as its deepening collaboration with Magna. After announcing a cooperation agreement in September 2025, Xpeng leveraged Magna's mature production lines to assemble locally in Europe, launching four models within a single year.
