[241129] #Xpeng #Aeva #Navipra

1. Xpeng launches AI-powered sedan in challenge to Tesla’s FSD autonomous driving system

• Xpeng, a Chinese EV maker, launched its AI-powered P7+ sedan, positioning it as a competitor to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, expected to launch in China in early 2025.
• The P7+ is priced between 186,800 and 218,800 yuan, making it over 5% cheaper than Tesla’s Model 3, with deliveries starting immediately.
• Xpeng aims to offer the “world’s best intelligent driving solution,” according to its founder, He Xiaopeng, leveraging its proprietary AI Hawkeye Visual Solution.
• China’s auto market is highly competitive, with many smart car companies adding features like autonomous driving, voice-activated controls, and facial recognition to attract consumers.
• Tesla’s FSD delay in China is creating opportunities for local competitors like Xpeng, which already introduced its XNGP semi-autonomous system nationwide in July.
• Xpeng’s P7+ was introduced at the Paris Motor Show, claiming to be the “world’s first AI-defined vehicle” with AI-enhanced systems across its design.
• Other players in China’s autonomous driving field include Baidu, Xiaomi, WeRide, and Pony.ai, with Baidu offering paid robotaxi services in several cities.
• DeepRoute.ai recently received a $100 million investment from Great Wall Motor to expand its advanced driver-assistance technology across 200,000 vehicles by 2025.
• Xpeng entered the hybrid EV market with its new Kunpeng range-extended hybrid system to expand globally, aiming to reach 60 countries by 2025 with over 300 service centers.

  

2. Aeva lidar to be deployed at JFK, SFO airports, and elsewhere…

• Aeva will supply its Atlas 4D lidar sensors for The Indoor Lab’s analytics platform, enhancing safety, security, and operational efficiency across critical infrastructure like airports and railways in the U.S.
• The Indoor Lab chose Aeva for its advanced 4D lidar capabilities, including instant velocity detection and sunlight interference immunity, marking Aeva’s first industrial customer win for its Atlas system.
• The partnership will initially deploy Aeva’s sensors in major U.S. airports, including JFK and San Francisco International, with future plans to expand into agriculture and smart infrastructure.
• Hesai Technology signed an exclusive lidar supply deal with Chinese EV maker Leapmotor, supplying lidar for multiple vehicle models, with the first model expected for mass production in 2025.
• Leapmotor’s C-series models, equipped with Hesai’s long-range AT128 lidar, offer advanced driving features like Navigation Assist Pilot, with Leapmotor expanding sales in Europe and aiming for 500 sales points by 2025.
• Both companies are deepening their collaboration to advance intelligent driving technology and strengthen Leapmotor’s position in ADAS.

The Indoor Lab integrates Aeva’s 4D lidar to boost analytics in critical infrastructure, while Hesai supplies lidar exclusively for Leapmotor’s advanced EV platform.

3. Waymo Unveils EMMA, a New AI Research Model for Next-Gen Autonomous Driving Technology

• Waymo launched a new AI research model, EMMA, to enhance autonomous driving using multimodal learning and real-time decision-making, currently in research stages only.
• EMMA employs end-to-end learning, chain-of-thought reasoning, and utilizes the Gemini language model to process sensor data and language inputs for comprehensive driving insights.
• The model aims to create a more adaptable driving stack and improve decision-making, boosting end-to-end planning performance by 6.7%.
• Some experts, including Aurora Innovation and Mobileye executives, caution against end-to-end AI models for autonomous driving due to safety concerns.
• Waymo recently completed a $5.6 billion funding round and is developing its next-gen autonomous vehicles at a Georgia facility, using Hyundai Ioniq 5 as the base platform.

4. Navipra, a company specializing in autonomous driving solutions for logistics robo…

5. US agency raises concerns about Tesla Full Self-Driving social media posts

• The NHTSA raised concerns over Tesla’s social media posts that could imply its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is a robotaxi and does not require driver attention.
• In October, NHTSA opened an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles with FSD software following four crashes, including one fatal incident in 2023, under challenging conditions like fog and sun glare.
• The NHTSA urged Tesla to adjust its messaging to clarify that FSD is a driver-assist system requiring constant driver attention, after Tesla shared posts suggesting otherwise.
• Tesla met with NHTSA, emphasizing that its manuals and warnings remind drivers to stay alert, as the system is not fully autonomous.
• The NHTSA investigation will evaluate if Tesla’s FSD provides sufficient real-time feedback for drivers to know when manual intervention is needed.
• Tesla previously agreed to recall over 2 million vehicles in 2023 to add new safety features to its Autopilot system, with NHTSA assessing the effectiveness of these updates.