Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the competitive landscape of autonomous driving technology, focusing on Xiaopeng Motors' ambitions to surpass Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities by 2026, as indicated by a public bet made by CEO He Xiaopeng [5][6]. Group 1: Xiaopeng's Strategy and Technology - He Xiaopeng has made a public bet that Xiaopeng's VLA technology will match Tesla's FSD V14.2 capabilities by August 30, 2024, highlighting the competitive nature of the autonomous driving sector [5]. - Xiaopeng's VLA technology is currently not at par with Tesla's FSD V14.2, but the company plans to release VLA 2.0 in the next quarter, which aims to improve its capabilities significantly [6][7]. - The second-generation VLA model will eliminate the "language translation" step, allowing for direct generation of action commands from visual signals, enhancing the vehicle's ability to navigate complex environments [7]. Group 2: Future Projections and Industry Trends - By 2026, Xiaopeng anticipates that its Robotaxi will begin trial operations, with the Ultra model expected to significantly outperform other autonomous driving products in the market [7][8]. - The company is investing heavily in AI and autonomous driving technology, with projected annual R&D expenditures reaching 50 billion yuan, of which 30 billion yuan will be allocated to AI [8]. - He Xiaopeng believes that the next decade will see a larger scale application of L4 autonomous driving, with vehicles becoming "embodied intelligent cars" that integrate with humanoid robotics [8]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The competition in autonomous driving is not just about algorithms but also involves data, computing power, and engineering capabilities, as highlighted by Tesla's rapid iteration speed [9]. - The outcome of the public bet will determine whether Xiaopeng can establish itself as a legitimate competitor to Tesla, potentially leading to a reevaluation of the company's market position [9].
何小鹏“约赌”马斯克,小鹏能否成为“中国特斯拉”?