Xpeng has secured L4-level autonomous-driving demonstration operation qualification for its robotaxi service, YOYO, allowing the fleet to operate across the entire city of Guangzhou, according to Chinese automotive outlet Gasgoo, as reported by D1EV.
The approval, announced on October 26, marks a shift for Xpeng from technical validation into operational and business-model testing. The company said it has obtained Guangzhou's intelligent connected vehicle application demonstration operation qualification, which permits L4-level robotaxi demonstration operations citywide.
Built on the GX flagship
YOYO is based on Xpeng's flagship GX model and is described by the company as China's first fully self-developed, front-line production robotaxi. It carries four in-house Turing AI chips with a combined effective computing power of 3,000 TOPS, plus a second-generation VLA (vision-language-action) large model. The vehicle does not rely on lidar or high-definition maps.
Since the start of this year, Xpeng said it has completed road testing, mass-production rollout, employee internal trials, and remote testing with no safety driver in the front seat. The service has logged more than 2,000 internal test orders. On October 8, YOYO was officially named and its ride-hailing mini-program went live, opening public experience through invitation codes.
For commercialization, Xpeng positions the robotaxi business as a technology provider and ecosystem enabler, offering complete solutions through its vehicle platform, autonomous-driving software, and AI capabilities to global partners. During the initial demonstration phase, YOYO will continue to expand service areas gradually using the invitation-code system, with plans to begin driverless passenger operations with no safety operator next year.
Context and significance
The move places Xpeng among a growing group of Chinese automakers pushing robotaxi services, alongside players like Baidu's Apollo Go and others. Unlike some rivals that rely on lidar-heavy sensor suites, Xpeng's vision-based approach with VLA models reflects a bet on end-to-end AI driving systems that could scale more cheaply.
Guangzhou, Xpeng's home base, has been a testing ground for autonomous vehicles in China, and the citywide permit gives the company a broad operating area to validate both technology and business models. The invitation-code model suggests Xpeng is being cautious about expansion, prioritizing safety and service quality over raw scale in the early phase.
For readers tracking China's EV and autonomous-driving landscape, YOYO's progress is notable because it combines a production-built vehicle with L4 capability from day one, rather than retrofitted prototypes. The company's plan to remove safety drivers next year will be a key milestone to watch, as it tests regulatory acceptance and public trust in driverless operations.