XPeng completed its fourth annual 1024 Tech Day in China today, highlighting several of its latest technological breakthroughs in electric mobility. The presentation included several advancements in autonomous driving, robotic animals, and self-evolving AI platforms. Additionally, XPeng Inc. shared that its sixth generation eVTOL – the closest thing we’ve seen to an actual flying car – completed its maiden flight. Lots to unfold here, so let’s get started.
Table of contents
Quick recap leading up to XPeng’s Tech Day 2022
XPeng Inc. ($XPEV) is a Chinese EV manufacturer founded in 2014 in Guangzhou that is made up of XPeng Motors and XPeng AeroHT, formerly known as XPeng Huitian – which specializes in Urban Air Mobility (UAM).
During last year’s 1024 Tech Day, XPeng revealed advancements to its XPILOT ADAS, “X Power” superchargers, and a robotic pony prototype equipped with LiDAR. XPeng wrapped last year’s Tech Day with what was probably its coolest announcement: the debut of its sixth generation eVTOL – the first to actually be worthy of the term “flying car.”
Previous versions of its eVTOLs didn’t have wheels but were based around the XPeng’s P7 EV architecture, so the UAM division still used the term “flying car.” However, AeroHT’s latest model can traverse both roads and air and has recently completed its maiden flight. More on that below.
Big upgrades to XPeng’s XNGP ADAS
When it debuted on the automaker’s G9 SUV in September, XNGP (navigation-guided pilot) was announced as XPeng’s last step before achieving fully autonomous driving. XNGP combines all scenarios of the automaker’s existing ADAS capabilities (highway, city, parking) into one holistic system that will soon no longer require high-precision maps to function – essentially opening up its availability to any and all areas.
At Tech Day 2022, XPeng shared that XNGP is backed by major hardware upgrades, including 508 TOPS of computing power, a dual-LiDAR system, 8-megapixel HD cameras, and a new software architecture called XNet, which operates using a closed-loop, self-evolving AI and data system.
XPeng unveils XNet neural network-based architecture at Tech Day
XPeng’s XNet varies from its first-generation visual perception architecture by adopting a deep neural network that was developed in-house to deliver visual recognition with human-like decision-making capabilities, drawing data from multiple cameras.
The company explained that its autonomous driving technical stack can reach 600 PFLOPS, increasing the training efficiency of the autonomous driving model by over 600 times. To that note, model training can be significantly reduced from 276 days to just 11 hours.
For added texture in regard to XNet’s streamlined efficiencies, it now only uses 9% of its Orin-X chip’s processing power, compared with 122% before optimization. These upgrades have enabled XPeng to establish an entirely closed-loop autonomous driving data system (data collection, labeling, training, and deployment) that utilizes lightning-fast machine learning to consistently self-improve. Per the release:
XPeng’s high-efficient AI capabilities enable consistent and unsupervised machine leaning and rapid iterations in training models, resolving over 1,000 rare corner cases each year. This highly efficient closed-loop AI and data system has helped reducing incident rate for the Highway NGP by 95%.
Continuing through the Tech Day presentation, the XPeng team explained that the technology above will help enable the automaker to develop and deploy an autonomous robotaxi fleet in China.
G9 SUV will be part of the XPeng’s robotaxi network in China
On stage at Tech Day 2022 in Guangzhou was XPeng’s vice president of autonomous driving, Dr. Xinzhou Wu, who shared that XPeng is developing a robotaxi network in China. The company shared that the G9 SUV became the country’s first mass-produced commercial vehicle to pass the Autonomous Driving Closed-field Test led by the Chinese government.
By completing the test to operate in a tier-one city like Guangzhou, XPeng states it has taken a major step forward in robotaxi development, all while using existing technology present on its latest EV. Wu elaborated:
Obtaining the road test permit by our mass-produced commercial vehicles – with no retrofit – is a major achievement. Our platform-based robotaxi development aims to generate significant cost benefits, and ensure product quality, safety and user experience.
XPeng’s robotic pet gets an upgrade to support better motion
As you can see from the image above, XPeng’s software is not the only technology that got upgrades since last year’s 1024 Tech Day event. The aforementioned “pony” robot has gotten a revamped design to support multidegree-of-freedom (MDOF) motion and locomotion capabilities. Other upgraded features include the following:
A more sophisticated mechanical structure
Higher transmission efficiency
Stronger robot actuator
High-end auto-grade computing platform
Battery and thermal management system
Significant upgrades to the motion control system
Robot can better adapt to complex indoor and outdoor terrain conditions like stairs, steep slopes, and gravel roads
The robot 2.0 looks cooler but is still sort of creepy. We’d still take it over a Tesla humanoid bot any day, though. We are looking forward to seeing it in action. Perhaps a battle against Boston Dynamics?
Latest eVTOL gets upgraded design, completes maiden flight
Last, and certainly not least, is the latest eVTOL update from AeroHT. Much like XPeng’s 1024 Tech Day last year, footage of its sixth-generation “flying car” stole the show.
During this year’s event, XPeng unveiled the latest version of the eVTOL, which has been optimized from last year’s horizontal dual-rotor structure to a new distributed multirotor configuration. The company also shared that the overall system design complexity of the eVTOL has been reduced to ensure better safety and reliability during flights.
As previously mentioned, this eVTOL is equipped with wheels and is capable of driving mode in addition to flight mode. XPeng AeroHT explained that driving mode is comparable to any conventional car in terms of functionality and measurement.
In flight mode, however, the eVTOL is piloted using the steering wheel and a right-hand gear lever that controls movement forward and backward, makes turns, ascends, hovers, and descends. AeroHT demonstrated this wheel and lever design in an eVTOL test flight video from July.
In addition to showcasing the upgraded flying car, XPeng also shared that the eVTOL has already completed its maiden flight in addition to multiple single-motor failure tests.
We’re still awaiting that flight footage from XPeng, but for now you can check out the rendering video showcasing the new eVTOL design shared during the Tech Day presentation.
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Tesla’s Full Self-Driving computer failure leaves customers in bad situations without many important features and depletes battery packs faster for months.
We found examples of the issue arising as far back as July. The problem can start quickly, within a few miles on a brand-new car or after a few hundred to a few thousand miles.
When the computer fails, many vehicle features stop working, like active safety features, cameras, and even GPS, navigation, and range estimations.
Tesla’s fix was to replace the computer completely, but sources also mentioned a temporary software fix to enable some of the features in the meantime.
It’s hard to estimate precisely the affected population. At the time of the article, we had received dozens of customer complaints and had sources inside Tesla estimating that, based on service requests, thousands of new Tesla owners are experiencing this issue.
We reported that this should lead to a recall since features like backup cameras are now considered a safety feature and required on new vehicles by NHTSA, but Tesla hasn’t released a service bulletin nor has a notice been posted with NHTSA.
Electrek contacted NHTSA to ask if they were aware of this issue. We will update if we get an answer.
Since publishing our original report on this issue last month, dozens of other customers reached out about the problem. They are reporting long wait times to get a new computer as Tesla tells them that it needs more parts, presumably the new computers.
Some showed documents to Electrek that showed they didn’t have an appointment to replace their computers until into February. For some customers, that would mean more than two months with severely handicapped vehicles.
On top of the previously mentioned disabled features, customers have voiced other problems living with their brand-new vehicles without a working computer. The computer appears to get stuck in an “auto-update loop”, which drains the battery faster.
A customer with this issue estimated that his Model 3 is consuming about 5 kWh per day when parked, doing nothing with this computer issue.
Some owners expressed concerns about faster battery degradation and wear on other components because of this issue. It’s also a major issue for people who don’t have home charging yet, and their vehicles are stuck discharging faster with this issue.
Electrek has seen documents showing that Tesla acknowledges that the computer issue is an “internal short.”
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Just over a year after unveiling its flagship solar-electric travel trailer called the Flow, recreational mobility startup Pebble has revealed its updated production-intent design. We got a chance to do a walkthrough of the optimized trailer design, which features several upgrades and some truly intuitive features. Today’s unveiling also marks Pebble’s continuance of Flow pre-orders, but we now have a timeline for when initial deliveries will begin.
Pebble is a California-based startup and one of a few new tech companies attempting to reinvigorate a stale RV segment. The company was founded by Bingrui Yang, who previously led iPhone development at Apple for nine years before leading hardware development for major players in the autonomous robotaxi space, including Cruise and Zoox. Yang described the company in detail in June of 2023:
Pebble was developed to create a hassle-free way to live, work and explore. Consumers have been stuck with the same RV experience for decades. A lot of people want to get into such a lifestyle of freedom but are turned off by the pain points in today’s products. At Pebble, we are automating the hardest parts of the RV experience with the same technologies that power the most advanced automotive innovations, making the whole experience simply effortless and magical. If you know how to use an iPhone, you’ll be comfortable using our product.
That strategy to bring more advanced technologies to the world of RVs and travel trailers culminated in Pebble’s flagship product, Flow. In the summer of 2023, the startup emerged out of stealth mode with $13.6 million in seed funding to help get the Flow into production, teasing brief glimpses of the luxury travel trailer along the way.
The following October, Pebble officially unveiled the Flow to the public, opening pre-orders for an iteration of the travel trailer that started at $109,000. We learned then that the Flow trailer is 300% more aerodynamic than a conventional travel trailer, reducing drag and extending range.
Furthermore, the Flow comes equipped with its own dual-motor active propulsion assist system, which helps it bear the brunt of its load while helping it maximize range and efficiency regardless of whether an ICE or electric vehicle is towing it.
Today, just over 14 months after initially unveiling the pre-production version of the Flow, Pebble has emerged with a production-intent design featuring some welcomed upgrades in its space utilization and some genuinely remarkable functions – all controllable from a single tablet.
Pebble Flow to begin deliveries in first half of 2025
Pebble unveiled its production-intent version of the Flow this morning. According to the company, it was updated with features and optimized design elements based on feedback from its community to improve the overall experience for future owners.
Pebble shared that the community that worked closely with its design and engineering teams to identify key opportunities for improvement consisted of over 3,000 members, including “digital nomads,” young families, retirees, and tech enthusiasts (bummed I didn’t get an invite).
Last month, we took a virtual tour of a production-intent Flow travel trailer and explored several upgrades that make an already unique and innovative electric mobility vehicle even better. For example, Pebble optimized the interior of the production-intent Flow, increasing storage and moving some of the walls to utilize more of the interior. The startup also redesigned the interior cabinets to flip upward rather than down for easier access, especially for vertically challenged people.
The interior also feels much roomier thanks to new side and rear windows that flip open for better airflow and a vast new skylight moved to the front of the trailer above the dinette area. Per Pebble, the revamped Flow exterior now features integrated tail lamps, enhanced aerodynamics, and a more streamlined appearance, including several color variations for early adopters:
During our virtual tour, a few exterior upgrades truly stood out. First, the Flow’s pass-through storage tunnel has been made larger, and Pebble has added a hitch receiver to accommodate accessories like bike racks. However, the new technologies introduced were the most impressive.
For example, Pebble added optional all-terrain levelers through an “InstaCamp” feature that can balance and level out the trailer, no matter where it is parked. The images above show Pebble Flow’s new motorized awning, which can be deployed using the app. Other features include four exterior cameras for better visibility and safety on the road and when parking.
Pebble has also introduced a re-engineered dual-motor drivetrain and a new caster wheel, making the Flow’s Remote Control and Magic Hitch capabilities (arguably the two most remarkable features in the entire trailer) possible and easy to use. What’s perhaps most impressive is how virtually all of the Flow’s features are controllable from a single tablet, as seen here:
From our experience, the most exciting features include the 1.1 kW solar array on the roof, the Magic Hitch capabilities, InstaCamp, and the Remote Control option using the Pebble App. We highly recommend checking out all those core features in action in Pebble’s video below.
The Pebble Flow starts at $109,500, with an option to upgrade to the Magic Pack. This adds the re-vamped dual-motor drivetrain, enabling features like Active Tow Assist, Magic Hitch, and enhanced Remote Control. The Flow configuration with the Magic Pack starts at $135,500.
According to Pebble, Flow production is expected to begin in early 2025, with initial deliveries beginning this spring. These early delivery customers will receive an exclusive Founders Edition of the Pebble Flow, fully loaded with all options and upgrades, plus the opportunity to select a limited-edition color (seen above), all for $175,000.
If you’re interested in a Pebble Flow, you can reserve one with a fully-refundable $500 deposit at pebblelife.com/preorder, and customize it to your liking.
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Genesis is giving its first all-electric vehicle a stylish new design, even more tech, and more in the updated model. The new Genesis GV60 EV is finally here. Check out the first look below.
Genesis reveals the updated new GV60 EV
The GV60 is the first dedicated EV to wear the Genesis badge. Launched in October 2021, the electric SUV helped establish Genesis as a true luxury brand in the EV space.
Four years later, Genesis is revamping it with its first major refresh. The new Genesis GV60 EV gains even more style, tech, and features.
Genesis unveiled the updated GV60 on Monday, showcasing its improved exterior and interior design for the first time. After the refreshed EV was spotted several times last year leading up to its official debut, we had a good idea of what design updates would be included.
One of the most noticeable features is the new front bumper. You can see Genesis fine-tuned the front end with a new bumper and headlamps.
The new GV60 features Genesis’ signature Two Line headlamps with Micro Lens Array (MLA) tech shown on other updated models like the Electrified GV70. The new Electrified GV70 was caught in public last month for the first time, revealing similar design updates.
Genesis infused its new “Athletic Elegance” design theme on the outside, while the luxurious interior features its “Beauty of the White Space” in-cabin experience.
The tech-loaded interior includes a new 27″ connected car Integrated Cockpit (ccIC) infotainment system. Genesis says the new design “eliminates the bezel between the cluster and audio, visual and navigation (AVN) screen.”
In other words, it makes the interior feel more spacious. The sporty new three-spoke steering wheel also enhances the interior. Other signature elements, like the Crystal Sphere, included in the outgoing model remain.
Genesis will reveal prices and additional specs closer to launch. However, like the updated Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6, the new Genesis GV60 is expected to feature a bigger battery for more range.
The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 has an 84 kWh battery that provides an EPA-estimated range of up to 318 miles, compared to the 2024 model, which has a 77.4 kWh battery that offers a range of up to 303 miles.
2025 Genesis GV60 trim
Range (EPA-est)
Starting Price*
Standard RWD
294 miles
$52,350
Standard AWD
264 miles
$55,850
Advanced AWD
248 miles
$60,900
Performance AWD
235 miles
$69,900
2025 Genesis GV60 prices and range by trim (*excluding $1,350 destination fee)
The 2025 Genesis GV60 starts at $52,350. A new AWD trim costs $55,850, $5,000 less than the Advanced AWD model. With up to 294 miles range on the current model, the new Genesis GV60 could get upwards of 300 miles.
Check back for more info soon. Genesis will launch the new model in Korea in Q1 2025, followed by other markets.
What do you think of the new Genesis GV60 design? Would you buy one for just over $50,000? Let us know in the comments below.
Are you ready to check out the electric luxury SUV for yourself? With the 2025 models arriving, Genesis is offering closeout prices on the 2024 lineup while they are still in stock. You can use our link to find offers on 2024 and 2025 Genesis GV60 models at a dealer near you today.
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