While most tech companies show off their robots stumbling through basic tasks, XPeng took a different approach at their AI Day 2025 event by revealing a humanoid robot that walks with the grace of a fashion model. Their IRON robot doesn’t just move—it glides across stages with nearly human-like movement that makes other robots look like they’re learning to walk on ice.
XPeng’s IRON robot glides with fashion model grace while competitors’ machines stumble like they’re learning to walk on ice.
The IRON robot packs some serious tech muscle with 82 degrees of freedom across its body and three custom Turing AI chips delivering 3000 TOPS of computing power. Think of it as having a supercomputer brain that can control every tiny movement from finger taps to full dance moves. The robot’s bionic gait algorithm lets it adjust step angles in real-time, while its neural balance system keeps it steady on slopes and during quick direction changes.
What makes IRON special isn’t just its smooth moves. The robot can read facial expressions and maintain eye contact during conversations, thanks to dual AI vision modules. With its humanoid spine, bionic muscles, and flexible skin covering, IRON looks more like a helpful human assistant than a clunky machine.
XPeng’s timing couldn’t be better for attracting investors. The humanoid robot industry lacks mature supply chains, creating opportunities for companies that can build everything in-house. XPeng’s vertical integration approach addresses this challenge while sharing technology with their autonomous vehicle division to reduce costs and development risks. The November 5, 2025 demonstration marked the world’s first showcase of a humanoid robot walking indistinguishably from a human.
The company plans large-scale mass production by late 2026, supported by their first embodied intelligence data factory in Guangzhou. They’re also opening their SDK to global developers, building an ecosystem around their physical AI technology. This connects to their broader robotaxi program launching in 2026 with both commercial fleet and family-shared versions. Beyond ground transportation, XPeng is developing the Land Aircraft Carrier with over 7,000 orders, setting a new industry record.
XPeng’s “Silent Prototype Strategy” of avoiding public testing until products are ready contrasts sharply with Western competitors who often showcase works-in-progress. This approach, combined with their “born from within” design philosophy, positions them as potential first-movers in large-scale humanoid robot production, making their transformation into a “global embodied intelligence company” increasingly attractive to long-term growth investors.
