In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen
In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen

XPeng Co-President: China's EV Race, Flying Cars and Humanoid Robots

September 10, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

“Change always brings opportunities. Just focus on the next one.” That is Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and President of XPeng, reflecting on his own pivot from a PhD in biochemistry—where he helped launch a lab with a future Nobel laureate—to a career in finance and now one of China’s most ambitious technology companies. XPeng is not simply an electric vehicle maker. It calls itself a physical AI company, betting that the same core technology stack—edge computing, AI models, sensors, and efficient powertrains—can power self-driving cars, flying vehicles, and humanoid robots. In this conversation, Gu explains how China’s EV market has become the world’s most competitive proving ground, why intelligence matters more than electrification, and what it will take for Chinese companies to go global.

Intelligence over Electrification

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **Chinese EV Leadership & XPeng’s Core Thesis** - Introduction to China's lead in electrification and the shift from "EV company" to "physical AI company."
  • 2 (02:37) **How to Judge Car Intelligence** - A practical definition of what makes a car "intelligent" from a user's perspective.
  • 3 (04:19) **10-Year Vision: Level 4 and Its Impact** - The expected timeline for full autonomy and its transformative effects on society.
  • 4 (07:20) **Battery Strategy & Market Maturity** - XPeng's approach to battery technology and the state of the Chinese EV market.
  • 5 (09:32) **The Fiercest Gym in the World** - Competitive landscape in China's EV market and what it takes to survive.
  • 6 (11:36) **China vs. Europe/US: The Lead and the Learning** - Where Chinese producers are ahead and where they still lag.
  • 7 (13:03) **XPeng’s Global Rollout Journey** - The challenges of going global from a Chinese EV brand.

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Show Notes

When will humanoid robots outnumber humans? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and Co-President of XPeng, who describes XPeng as a "physical AI" business rather than just a carmaker. They discuss XPeng's ventures into flying cars and humanoid robots, both built on the same core technology as its vehicles, and a Chinese EV market where new-energy cars now outsell combustion ones. Brian also reflects on his path from a chemistry PhD alongside a future Nobel laureate to a career in tech. With Norway as its flagship European market, XPeng's ambitions keep growing. Tune in! 

In Good Company is hosted by Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management. New episodes every Wednesday, and don't miss our weekly Friday Wrap-Up.

The production team for this episode includes Isabelle Karlsson and PLAN-B's Guttorm Andreasen and Håkon Klemsdal. Background research was conducted by Simran Sahajpal.

 


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