XPeng’s Dogotix unit is developing the IRON humanoid robot. Source: XPeng
Like other global automakers, XPeng Motors is branching into humanoid robots. The electric vehicle manufacturer today said that its Dogotix robotics unit has raised more than $900 million in its initial funding round, bringing its pre-money valuation to $5 billion and post-transaction valuation to more than $6.3 billion.
XPeng said it plans to use the investment to further develop hardware and software, collect data, train physical AI models, build mass-production facilities, and expand globally. Founded in 2016, Shenzhen, China-based Dogotix will remain asubsidiaryof XPeng, with He Ziaopeng remaining CEO of both companies.
Founded in 2014, Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co. or XPeng said it aspires to become a global leader in AI mobility. The Guangzhou, China-basedcompanydevelops its full-stack advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) technology and in-car operating system in-house, and most of its manufacturing takes place at facilities in China.
XPengreleasedits firstrobotaxibased on its GX platform in May, and it is stillworking toward profitability, saidThe Wall Street Journal.
XPengsaid it plans to produce1,000IRONhumanoids monthly by the end of 2026. The dexterous robot is aimed atretailstores and industrial campuses, and the company said commercial deliveries will begin in 2027.
Dogotix has also developedquadrupedand tracked robots for smart home, logistics, power inspection, and security use cases. As an early-stage company, it did reportlossesin 2024 and 2025.
Other automakers directly involved in humanoid development includeHyundai, which is testingBoston Dynamic‘s Atlas, andTesla, which ispreparing to produceits Optimus at scale. BMW Grouphas deployedFigure AI‘s Figure 03 after testing. These manufacturers see a large potential market for mass-produced complex machinery and electronics.
IDG Capital led the funding round for XPeng, whose strategic investors include Alibaba and Tencent. Gaorong Ventures, which also supported autonomous vehicle developerMomentaand humanoid robot startupAgiBot, also participated,reportedReuters.
XPeng said it has set a record for a single private financing in China’s embodied AI sector. The company’s valuation is similar to that of other recent recipients of funding for humanoids:
Investors have given humanoid robotics companies more than $8.7 billion in venture capital so far this year,according toDealroom.co. Two-thirds of that funding has gone toChinesecompanies, it noted.
At the same time, it remains to be seen how and when these companies will deliver commercial value. For instance,Unitree‘s stocksurgedby about 460% after its initial public offering, but it has thenfallen by 44%from that high.