Core Insights - The founder of Xpeng Motors, He Xiaopeng, shared his experience of test-driving Tesla's FSD V14.2 in the U.S., indicating that while the 2024 FSD may still be considered "decent L2 assisted driving," the latest version brings L4 autonomous driving within reach [1][4] - He Xiaopeng believes that true fully autonomous driving will arrive in both the Chinese and U.S. markets by 2026, skipping the L3 stage and moving directly from L2 to L4 [3][8] - Xpeng's upcoming Ultra model will be based on a unified model to achieve full-scene autonomous driving and Robotaxi functionality, positioning it as the next generation of smart vehicles [3][8] Differences Between L2 and Full Autonomous Driving - He Xiaopeng summarized the core differences between L2 and fully autonomous driving into four aspects: capability, scenarios, reassurance, and efficiency, with "reassurance" being particularly critical [6][9] - He emphasized that the complexity of Chinese road conditions far exceeds that of the U.S., and the Xpeng VLA 2.0 test version performs smoothly in various driving situations, instilling confidence in drivers [6][9] - The VLA system is evolving rapidly, with advancements occurring at a pace of "one month equating to a year," and the VLA 2.0 is set to be officially released soon [6][9]

Core Viewpoint - The CEO of Xpeng Motors, He Xiaopeng, has made a bet with the autonomous driving team regarding the performance of the upcoming Xpeng VLA compared to Tesla's FSD V14.2 in Silicon Valley by August 2026 [1][4]. Group 1: Company Developments - Xpeng VLA 2.0 is set to be released in the next quarter, with high expectations for its performance and stability [1][3]. - The company is under pressure to ensure that the first version of VLA meets high standards, aiming for a remarkable launch [1][3]. Group 2: Industry Comparisons - During a recent test drive in Silicon Valley, the FSD V14.2 was found to have significantly improved, transitioning from L2 high-level assisted driving to a near L4 level of comfort and safety [1][3]. - The test drive lasted approximately 5 hours, during which standard vehicles and RoboTaxi operated seamlessly under a unified model, showing substantial improvement over the previous year's performance [1][3]. Group 3: Future Aspirations - The CEO expressed confidence in a future where a unified self-driving system and hardware platform will allow users to bypass L3 and directly access L4 capabilities in vehicles [1][3].