5 November 2025 Chinese electrical car maker Xpeng presented the latest version of his humanoid IRON robot – the effect of 7 years of research, from quadruped prototypes to advanced androíd.
NEW IRON is simply a breakthrough:
- Bionic bones and muscles,
- Full-cover “soft skin”,
- 22 additional degrees of freedom in the hands,
- 3 Turing AI processors (2250 TOPS),
- Hybrid Cognitive Model: VLT (Vision-Language-Thinking) + VLA (Vision-Language-Action) + VLM (Vision-Language-Model).
The robot can simultaneously talk and execute precise activities – e.g. service a drink or explain the car model in the surviving room.
Unlike Tesla or 1X, Xpeng does not plan mass sales in 2026. Instead, humanoids will only scope their own points: as guides, receptionists, and sellers.
Why this step? due to the fact that the tests in production have shown that IRON does not cope with simple tasks, specified as tightening screws – due to advanced service costs and low durability. As Xpeng admits: "Humanoid robots are besides complicated to replace workers on the line today".
The company estimates that mass industrial applications will be possible in 3–5 years and in homes in 5–10 years. Meanwhile, Xpeng will focus on a safe, controlled environment – surviving rooms and factories.
Important accent – ethics. IRON will respect the 4 rights of robotics, including privacy – crucial in the AI era.
For Xpeng developers, IRON SDK will shortly be available, and Baosteel will be the first partner – a steel giant to test the robot in industrial environments.
In the era of the race, the goal of which is simply a robot being the perfect copy of a man, Xpeng chooses caution – and this may give him an advantage in the long race.
Sources
- Electrek – “Xpeng AI Day: fresh AI Model Powering Robots, Robotaxis and Flying Cars”, 5 November 2025:
https://electrek.co/2025/11/05/xpeng-ai-day-new-ai-model-powering-robotaxis-and-flying-cars/ - Xpeng – authoritative AI Day 2025 Livestream Transcript
- TechCrunch – “Xpeng’s IRON Robot: Cautious Steps Toward Commercialization”, 6 November 2025
- South China Morning Post – “Chinese EV Makers Enter Humanoid Race with Realistic Timelines”, 7 November 2025
Leszek B. Glass
Email: [email protected]
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