On October 28, Gu Jie, Vice President of XPENG, announced at the Embodied AI Robotics Conference during the SAE-China Congress & Exhibition (SAECCE) that the dedicated solid-state battery developed for the XPENG IRON humanoid robot had completed pilot-batch production and rolled off the assembly line. He noted that the complete robot system is currently in its pre-SOP (Standard Operating Procedure / Start of Production) stage.
According to reports, this battery is engineered specifically to address the spatial constraints and lightweight requirements of humanoid robots, adopting a high-energy-density architecture and establishing battery safety standards tailored to robotic applications. XPENG stated that, compared with conventional liquid lithium-ion batteries, this battery achieves an approximate 30% reduction in weight and a 30% increase in capacity, while incorporating an anti-thermal runaway propagation design capable of withstanding severe impact, nail penetration, and related tests.
In fact, XPENG had previously integrated solid-state batteries into its humanoid robotics technology roadmap. In November 2025, XPENG unveiled its next-generation IRON humanoid robot at its annual Tech Day, announcing plans to adopt all-solid-state batteries to fulfill the robot’s requirements for lightweight design, energy density, and operational safety.
Beyond battery research and development, XPENG has steadily advanced robot manufacturing and supply chain development throughout this year to prepare for upcoming mass production.
On September 8, XPENG officially commissioned its humanoid robot production line, where the IRON robot completed automated final assembly and walked off the line autonomously. Featuring an automation rate exceeding 80% across core processes, the production line incorporates automotive-grade quality management systems, laying a solid manufacturing foundation for subsequent large-scale production.
On the supply chain front, XPENG held its inaugural Robotics Supply Chain Partner Conference on September 22, convening suppliers specializing in robot joint modules, actuators, precision structural components, and related fields. XPENG stated that it has signed sourcing nomination agreements with relevant suppliers and is actively advancing parts procurement and production-line scheduling.
From a financing perspective, XPENG's robotics business has also secured substantial capital backing. On August 24, XPENG's robotics unit closed its first funding round, raising over $900 million at a post-money valuation exceeding $6.3 billion. XPENG plans to advance its high-tier humanoid robots into large-scale mass production by late 2026, followed by a phased rollout into retail showrooms and other commercial scenarios starting in 2027.
Source：EnergyTrend
