A quiet but meaningful milestone has been reached in China’s fast-moving robotics space. XPeng has completed the first unit of its ET1 humanoid robot prototype, signaling steady progress toward mass production and real-world use.
Founder and CEO He Xiaopeng shared the update on social media, confirming that the ET1 robot was built to automotive-grade standards and has officially rolled off the production line.
“Today, the first unit of our ET1 robot, developed to automotive-grade standards, has successfully rolled off the production line,” Xiaopeng wrote, adding that he spent the day “observing and discussing the details behind it” with the team.
“This marks a critical step toward the large-scale mass production of advanced humanoid robots this year,” he said.
XPeng has stated that it aims to begin mass production of humanoid robots by the end of 2026, a target first announced during its 2025 AI Day event held in November last year.
The company revealed its humanoid robot ambitions earlier at its 2024 AI Day event, where it introduced the first-generation IRON robot. That model showcased lifelike movement and design, reflecting years of research and development. XPeng said the robot featured more than 60 joints and 200 degrees of freedom.
XPeng has also highlighted that its humanoid robots share core technologies with its electric vehicles. At the time, the company said, “The robots have already been integrated into XPeng’s daily operations and focus on internal applications, such as factories and stores.”
In 2025, XPeng unveiled a second-generation humanoid robot powered by its VLA 2.0 model and multiple in-house AI chips capable of delivering thousands of trillions of operations per second. The robot featured a humanoid spine, bionic muscles, and flexible skin, enabling smooth and highly human-like motion. During live demonstrations, many viewers initially believed a human was inside the robot. To remove doubts, company representatives revealed parts of the robot’s mechanical structure on camera.
XPeng has said the next-generation humanoid will first target commercial service roles, including retail and hospitality, rather than personal home use.
The humanoid robot program is part of XPeng’s broader “physical AI” strategy, which also includes autonomous vehicles, robotaxis, and other embodied intelligent systems. While development is still ongoing, the rollout of the first ET1 prototype shows XPeng is steadily moving toward making humanoid robots a real product line.
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