Xpeng unveils next-gen Iron humanoid robot at 2025 AI Day. Chinese electric-vehicle leader XPENG Motors has unveiled its most advanced huma...
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| Xpeng unveils next-gen Iron humanoid robot at 2025 AI Day. |
Over the past decade, XPENG has expanded from electric vehicles into aerial mobility and robotics. The Next-Gen IRON project is the culmination of this multidisciplinary research, merging mechatronics, computer vision, and cognitive AI. According to XPENG CEO He Xiaopeng, the company’s ambition is to “build robots that can serve humanity by interacting safely, intelligently, and efficiently within the human world.”
“Our IRON robot is not just a lab prototype,” said He Xiaopeng. “It is designed for the real world — to move through our spaces, handle tools, and learn continuously from human interaction.”
The humanoid stands 1.75 meters tall and weighs roughly 90 kilograms. Its frame is composed of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy and carbon-fiber composites, offering a high strength-to-weight ratio and enhanced energy efficiency. Each limb is driven by proprietary liquid-cooled actuators that allow precise motion control, achieving human-like fluidity and balance even on uneven terrain.
The IRON is powered by XPENG’s physical-world large model — an AI architecture integrating perception, reasoning, and motor control through a vision-language-action network. Its “brain,” a triple-chip system developed in-house, performs 3,000 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), enabling real-time decision-making across visual recognition, motion prediction, and tactile feedback.
Real-world functionality
XPENG demonstrated IRON performing a range of coordinated actions — lifting heavy components, tightening bolts, inspecting under-carriage assemblies, and guiding autonomous vehicles during testing. The robot’s driving function operates through multi-sensor synchronization with XPENG’s in-vehicle OS, allowing it to enter, start, and navigate within predefined routes under supervision.
Beyond automotive tasks, XPENG envisions IRON assisting in logistics, manufacturing, eldercare, and emergency response. It can be programmed to execute warehouse organization, deliver parts on assembly lines, and handle hazardous operations where human exposure is risky.
Autonomy and safety
IRON’s autonomy is driven by an embedded version of XPENG’s XBrain OS, which combines 3D spatial mapping, natural-language understanding, and reinforcement learning. In safety-critical environments, IRON operates with dual-layer supervision — local edge AI for real-time reaction and a cloud-based control layer for high-level task orchestration. Emergency stop, posture correction, and collision-avoidance algorithms are active at all times.
The robot’s battery uses solid-state chemistry to ensure long operation cycles — approximately 6 hours per charge — and features a modular design for fast swapping during industrial shifts. IRON is not an isolated project. XPENG has strategically tied it to its wider “mobility + AI” roadmap, which includes XPENG AeroHT flying vehicles and the XPENG Robotics division. Together, these divisions form a convergent platform where software, cloud infrastructure, and robotics share intelligence, allowing IRON to communicate with XPENG cars, drones, and smart facilities.
Commercial timeline and industrial use
XPENG plans to begin pilot deployments of IRON in 2026 within its own factories and service centres. Early models will perform repetitive but safety-critical tasks, while later versions may transition into consumer and urban service roles. Analysts estimate XPENG could spend up to $13.8 billion USD on humanoid robotics R&D and production infrastructure through 2030.
According to a Financial Times report, the company aims to position IRON as a cost-competitive alternative to human labor in select manufacturing contexts within five years. The introduction of humanoid robots capable of driving and repairing vehicles raises important ethical questions. How should responsibility be assigned if a robot damages property or causes an accident?
XPENG has stated that every IRON deployment will include strict oversight protocols, digital identification, and transparent logging systems to ensure accountability and traceability. The company also emphasizes human collaboration over replacement — positioning IRON as a supportive co-worker that enhances efficiency rather than a direct substitute for skilled technicians.
Global competition
With IRON, XPENG joins an increasingly competitive field alongside Tesla’s Optimus, Figure AI, and Agility Robotics. However, XPENG’s unique advantage lies in its vertical integration — blending expertise in EV manufacturing, AI software, and robotics hardware. This could accelerate commercialization in ways Western competitors may struggle to match due to fragmented supply chains.
XPENG’s IRON project reflects a broader trend: the convergence of digital intelligence and physical embodiment. As the robot learns from interactions, it contributes data back to XPENG’s global AI model, improving both robotic and automotive systems in parallel. If successful, IRON could reshape how we think about “machines at work” — from smart factories to autonomous service centers and, eventually, the public road.
