XPENG secures Guangzhou approval for Level 4 YOYO robotaxi demonstrations

XPENG receives citywide Guangzhou qualification

XPENG announced on October 26 that its YOYO robotaxi had obtained qualification for intelligent connected vehicle demonstration operations across Guangzhou. The authorization permits Level 4 autonomous operations throughout the city, moving the program from technical validation toward operational and business-model testing, the company said.

The qualification covers demonstrations rather than unrestricted commercial ride-hailing. Public access began through an invitation-code mini-program, and XPENG plans to expand the operating area gradually while retaining safety controls.

YOYO has completed closed testing

XPENG YOYO is based on the automaker’s GX model and uses four in-house Turing AI chips providing 3,000 TOPS of effective computing power. Its second-generation Vision-Language-Action model operates without lidar or high-definition maps, according to XPENG.

Since the start of 2026, the vehicle has undergone road testing, production, internal employee testing and remote testing without a safety driver in the front seat. XPENG said those activities generated more than 2,000 internal test orders. The service was formally named on October 8.

Passenger operations without safety drivers remain planned

XPENG said passenger-carrying operations without safety drivers are planned for 2027. That future stage remains subject to further operational development and was not established by the reported demonstration qualification.

The reported rollout will use actual urban travel demand to test dispatch, curbside pickup and real-time handling of unusual operating conditions, according to reporting on the qualification. Invitation-only public access is intended to expand the service footprint gradually while prioritizing passenger safety.

XPENG positions YOYO as a technology platform

XPENG does not plan to operate a large private taxi fleet directly. He Xiaopeng, the company’s chairman and CEO, has positioned YOYO as a technology and ecosystem platform for third-party mobility operators.

The company said its offerings can include vehicle platforms, autonomous-driving software and AI capabilities. Reported potential revenue avenues include vehicle and hardware sales, software and technical licensing, and commission sharing on rides. XPENG is also reported to be in advanced negotiations with European mobility platforms, although no agreement or order was announced in the reviewed reporting.

Guangzhou is the operating test ground

Guangzhou, where XPENG maintains research, development and mass-production facilities, will serve as the proving ground for a standardized operational model that the company may seek to export. The qualification supports that stated objective, but the reviewed reports do not establish approval for international operations.

The next verifiable milestone is the gradual expansion of invitation-based YOYO operations across Guangzhou under the demonstration authorization, followed later by the company’s stated plan for passenger service without safety drivers in 2027. Neither milestone constitutes confirmed unrestricted commercial operation under the reported permit.