Key highlights:
- Xpeng is locally calibrating XPilot for Australian and NZ roads
- NGP VLA 2.0, similar to Tesla’s supervised FSD, is planned from 2027
- Only L03 Performance Ultra gets NGP-ready Turing AI hardware
Xpeng is testing and calibrating its driver-assistance technology and vehicle dynamics in Australia and New Zealand, saying the local program shows the brand intends to stay in both markets for the long haul.
Damian Royce, Xpeng Australia and New Zealand head of marketing and creativity, confirmed the company is testing its XPilot system against local road conditions. The work aims to adapt the technology to the roads customers will actually use.
Prototypes were spotted testing in Australia, as reported by CarExpert, earlier this year, and Xpeng says its wider local program covers more than driver assistance.
The program now covers driver assistance, vehicle dynamics, software, data, mapping and navigation as Xpeng prepares for the next stage of its local expansion.
XPilot gets local calibration
Xpeng offers XPilot as standard across its Australian range, including the upcoming L03, and the system includes:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane centring
- Lane-change assistance
- Traffic-sign recognition
- Intelligent parking assistance
Damian Royce said Xpeng has three particular areas in focus during local calibration:
- Avoiding vulnerable road users
- Understanding road signs
- Understanding implicit traffic rules
“This is where things come into more context for the Australian and New Zealand markets, tested here right now and calibrating our systems for the roads our customers are going to be using with these vehicles,” said Royce.
He said Xpeng wants to calibrate XPilot locally rather than simply deploy a system developed for another market.
“Local road testing is now underway, including road condition adaptation for driving down here in Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
Parking technology also gets local testing
Xpeng is adapting its parking-assistance technology for local conditions and it is testing scenarios including shopping-centre carparks, tight kerbside spaces and home garages.
The system uses a 360-degree camera and parking sensors. Xpeng also describes parking functions for private driveways, courtyards and unmarked roadside parking spaces.
However, the company has not yet detailed exactly how those functions will operate in Australia and New Zealand.
Also read: Brand’s cheapest 2027 XPeng L03 coupe-SUV price and specs
Testing goes beyond XPilot
Xpeng says its local testing program started earlier this year and covers road testing, vehicle dynamics, data and software. Royce said vehicle-dynamics testing requires a longer testing period than XPilot.
“There have been road tests since early this year. Beyond XPilot, vehicle dynamic road testing needs a longer [testing] time,” he said.
The broader program aims to ensure Xpeng vehicles sold in Australia and New Zealand deliver the expected performance and customer experience. Testing will continue after launch, including work with Google on mapping and navigation software.
NGP VLA 2.0 arrives from 2027
Xpeng is preparing to introduce its next-generation NGP, or Navigation Guided Pilot, system based on its VLA 2.0 software, which will rival Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Supervised systems.
Xpeng plans to progressively roll out NGP VLA 2.0 in Australia and New Zealand from 2027. Both countries rank among the first right-hand-drive markets scheduled to receive the technology, subject to the required local rollout and approvals.
However, the future system will not cover every Australian L03 variant, and only the range-topping L03 AWD Performance Ultra has the three Turing AI hardware required for NGP.
The Standard Range, Long Range and Power-X versions use a conventional driver-assistance package and currently have no stated hardware upgrade path to NGP.
The upcoming L03 becomes the first Xpeng model to use Google Maps through Google’s Auto SDK, and the technology integrates Google Maps into Xpeng’s own navigation system. Xpeng says Google Maps data will also support NGP and XPilot Assist in overseas markets.
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