Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of integrating intelligence into electric vehicles, highlighting that smart driving is the core battlefield for the future of the automotive industry, as articulated by He Xiaopeng, the founder of XPeng Motors [5][7]. Group 1: XPeng's Strategic Shift - XPeng Motors has transitioned to a new phase in its smart driving technology, appointing Liu Xianming, the head of the world foundation model, to lead its autonomous driving business, indicating a shift towards a large model-driven approach [5][7]. - The company has invested 2 billion yuan in developing its second-generation VLA (Vision-Language-Action) model, which aims to enhance the capabilities of its autonomous driving system by focusing on large-scale data and model training [7][24]. Group 2: Technological Innovations - The second-generation VLA model eliminates the language processing step, which previously acted as a bottleneck, allowing the system to learn directly from visual and action data, thereby improving efficiency and reducing latency [26][30]. - XPeng has collected nearly 100 million clips of video data for training, equating to the driving experience of 35,000 years, which is crucial for developing its autonomous driving capabilities [25][24]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - XPeng faces increasing competition from companies like Li Auto and Huawei, which are also advancing their autonomous driving technologies, with Huawei's ADS 4.0 already deployed in over 1 million vehicles [6][20]. - The article discusses the challenges of the VLA model, particularly its high demands for multimodal data, computational power, and potential delays due to the language conversion process [20][21]. Group 4: Future Directions - XPeng aims to apply the new VLA paradigm to various applications, including Robotaxi, humanoid robots, and flying cars, as part of its vision for a "physical AI" empire [9][24]. - The company is committed to overcoming the uncertainties associated with its new approach, emphasizing the need for innovation and the willingness to abandon past successful experiences to explore new frontiers [40][41].

Core Insights - The article discusses the integration of three major technological trends: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Embodied Intelligence, and Intelligent Driving, highlighting their interconnectedness and the underlying industry chains [2][3][20]. Group 1: Artificial Intelligence - AI is defined as the capability of machines to simulate human intelligence behaviors, including perception, thinking, learning, and decision-making. IDC predicts that by 2028, China's AI investment will exceed $100 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 35.2% [7][8]. - The AI industry chain includes components such as AI chips, servers, sensors, machine learning frameworks, and data services, emphasizing the importance of chips as the core of the industry [9][8]. Group 2: Embodied Intelligence - Embodied Intelligence refers to intelligent agents with physical bodies that interact with the physical world, accumulating knowledge and skills through perception and control. Its applications span various sectors, including industrial manufacturing, healthcare, and education [13][14]. - The industry chain for Embodied Intelligence includes upstream core technology development, key components, system integrators, and downstream applications, showcasing a comprehensive view of the sector [14]. Group 3: Intelligent Driving - Intelligent Driving is described as an advanced driving technology that combines AI, autonomous driving, vehicle sensors, and internet technologies to enhance driving experiences. The ultimate goal is fully autonomous driving [17][18]. - The industry chain for Intelligent Driving encompasses core technology and hardware supply, system integration, and application scenarios, with significant representation from companies in the field during the upcoming expo [18][20]. Group 4: Event Overview - The 2025 China International Industrial Expo will feature three main exhibition areas focusing on "Secrets of Computing Power," "AI's Rebellion," and "Intelligent Driving Disassembly," showcasing advancements in semiconductor independence, AI-enabled industrial software, and digital transformation in manufacturing [24][23]. - The event will also host industry summits on topics like industrial internet and integrated circuits, aiming to empower high-quality development in the electronic information industry [24].