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- Reveal: Chinese EV maker XPeng unveiled its next‑gen IRON humanoid at AI Day 2025 in Guangzhou on Nov. 5, showcasing a modelled‑female form and catwalk‑style gait. XPENG
- “8th generation” claim: Coverage describes IRON as the eighth generation in XPeng’s broader robotics program (and third humanoid design), though other outlets call it “second‑generation.” BGR
- Design pivot: XPeng leans into “extreme anthropomorphism” with a biomechanical spine, bionic muscles and full‑body synthetic skin—a curvier, more “feminine” silhouette than many rivals. XPENG
- Specs (company vs. media): XPeng says 3 Turing AI chips deliver ~3,000 TOPS, 82 DOF total and 22‑DOF hands; some reports list 2,250 TOPS and 62 joints. XPENG
- Power: IRON debuts all‑solid‑state batteries for lighter weight, higher energy density and safety, according to the company. XPENG
- Roadmap: XPeng aims for large‑scale mass production by end‑2026; early deployments focus on retail greeters, guides and industrial pilots (e.g., Baosteel). XPENG
- Viral moment: After online rumors it was a human in costume, XPeng unzipped the bot’s skin on camera to show internals. South China Morning Post
- Industry reaction: Elon Musk called the demo “Not bad … Tesla and China companies will dominate the market.” CnEVPost
The news: XPeng’s next‑gen IRON steps into the spotlight
At XPeng AI Day 2025, the EV maker rebranded itself as a “global embodied intelligence company” and unveiled four “Physical AI” products, including VLA 2.0, Robotaxi plans and the next‑gen IRON humanoid. The company’s official brief emphasizes a design “born from within” the human body—humanoid spine, bionic muscles, fully flexible skin—and says IRON now supports customization for different body shapes. XPENG
Tech press and spectators fixated on IRON’s female‑coded form and runway‑style gait. XPeng positions the look as deliberate anthropomorphism to speed human‑robot interaction learning and acceptance. As CEO He Xiaopeng put it, XPeng’s answer to “Should robots be human‑like?” is “extreme anthropomorphism.” XPENG
Is it 2nd‑gen or 8th‑gen?
Semantics matter. XPeng calls this a next‑generation IRON and notes the first‑generation IRON arrived in 2024. BGR reports it’s the eighth generation of XPeng’s robotics initiative (and the third humanoid), while Euronews frames it as second‑generation. In other words: eighth in the overall program, second or third if you count only humanoids. euronews
What’s actually new: hardware, hands and a very human skin
- Degrees of freedom: IRON now has 82 DOF, with 22‑DOF hands claimed to use the industry’s smallest harmonic joint for true human‑size proportions. Some third‑party write‑ups still cite 62 active joints, reflecting earlier or alternate counting. XPENG
- Compute: XPeng’s release credits three Turing AI chips with ~3,000 TOPS; several outlets reported 2,250 TOPS. Either way, IRON’s onboard compute is meant to run XPeng’s VLT + VLA + VLM “multi‑brain” stack for conversation, walking and interaction. XPENG
- Energy: XPeng says IRON is the first robot to implement an all‑solid‑state battery, promising lighter weight, higher energy density and improved safety. XPENG
- Anthropomorphic shell: The full‑body synthetic skin is designed to feel “warmer and more intimate,” and XPeng showed that owners could customize appearance (body type, hair, clothing) over time. BGR
“XPeng’s answer is ‘extreme anthropomorphism’.” — He Xiaopeng at AI Day 2025. XPENG
Why the “feminine” form is a big deal
BGR noted that IRON departs from the “traditionally male aesthetic” seen in some rivals, opting for a curvier, more feminine figure. The design isn’t just cosmetic; XPeng argues that human‑like shape and expressiveness are crucial to collect human‑centric training data and to make the robot more approachable in public settings. BGR
For comparison, NEURA Robotics’ flagship humanoid 4NE1 emphasizes a utilitarian, collaborative look—“Designed to Move Like Us. Built to Work With Us”—aimed at industrial workflows and assistance. Different philosophies are emerging: XPeng is leaning into social‑presence; NEURA doubles down on workplace utility. Neura Robotics
What IRON will do first
XPeng says IRON will roll out initially as receptionists, store greeters, tour guides and in industrial pilots. The company announced a partnership in principle with Baosteel, where IRON will explore inspection and other factory tasks—signalling a path from retail/service to industrial use. XPENG
The public target is clear: “By the end of 2026, XPeng aims to achieve large‑scale mass production of high‑level humanoid robots.” XPENG
A viral demo—and a reality check
IRON’s model‑like catwalk and lifelike posture sparked online claims that a human was in the suit. XPeng responded with a video unzipping the back to reveal mechanisms and cooling fans. The episode dominated Chinese social feeds and thrust IRON into the global limelight. South China Morning Post
“Not bad … Tesla and China companies will dominate the market,” Elon Musk remarked after watching the IRON clips, adding that “other companies in the West are weak.” CnEVPost
How it fits into XPeng’s bigger “Physical AI” bet
XPeng pairs IRON with announcements about Robotaxi plans for 2026 and a vehicle AI stack built on its in‑house Turing chips and VLA 2.0 model. The company’s argument: vertical integration across cars, robots and flying vehicles will compress cost and speed iteration. Independent reporting this week echoed the 2026 Robotaxi timeline. XPENG
And XPeng has telegraphed that it’s in this for the long haul: earlier this year, Reuters reported the company may invest up to 100 billion yuan (~$13.8B) in humanoids over the coming decades. Reuters
Rival scorecard: different shapes of the same race
- NEURA Robotics (Germany) — 4NE1 targets collaborative, real‑world work; the company introduced a third‑generation 4NE1 this summer and touts a broader “Neuraverse” ecosystem. Neura Robotics
- 1X (Norway/U.S.) — NEO is a home robot now taking preorders at $20,000 or $499/month, with first consumer deliveries slated for 2026. 1X
- UBTech (China) — Walker series is expanding factory pilots, but public data show performance is still below human efficiency in early tests. WIC Internet
- Unitree (China) — H1/G1 showcase dynamic locomotion and lower‑cost research platforms; broad mass‑production claims exist but remain early. ProSMT Robotik
Against that backdrop, XPeng’s go‑to‑market looks service‑first (stores, events, industrial trials) rather than household chores—an approach the company discussed openly at AI Day. BGR
Safety, privacy and ethics
XPeng says IRON follows Asimov’s Three Laws, plus a “Fourth Law”: “Privacy data does not leave the robot.” If implemented as described, that would keep sensitive interaction data on‑device—a notable stance as consumer robots begin entering public spaces. XPENG
What we still don’t know
- Price: XPeng hasn’t announced one. (Third‑party trackers list placeholder figures, but XPeng hasn’t confirmed.) Humanoid.guide
- Compute discrepancy: The company’s 3,000 TOPS claim conflicts with some coverage at 2,250 TOPS—we’ll watch for clarified specs. XPENG
- Regulatory/operational limits: Service robots in public places raise questions about safety certification and liability that XPeng has yet to detail publicly. (Context on XPeng’s related Robotaxi plans suggests a regulatory path exists in China.) The Wall Street Journal
Quotes to know
- He Xiaopeng, XPeng: “Extreme anthropomorphism” is the company’s design answer for humanoids. XPENG
- Elon Musk, Tesla: “Not bad … Tesla and China companies will dominate the market.” CnEVPost
- NEURA Robotics: “Designed to Move Like Us. Built to Work With Us.” Neura Robotics
Bottom line
XPeng’s new IRON is more than a flashy demo. It’s a design pivot toward overtly human‑coded machines, backed by a 2026 mass‑production goal, a solid‑state battery first claim, and a broader Physical AI stack spanning cars and robots. Whether XPeng can translate that into reliable, affordable service robots at scale is the real test—but this week’s reveal shows the humanoid race is no longer hypothetical, and China is sprinting. XPENG
Sources & further reading
- XPeng AI Day 2025 press release and IRON technical claims. XPENG
- BGR on “eighth generation,” feminine design, customization and early use cases. BGR
- CnEVPost coverage of specs, mass‑production timing and viral reaction; Musk’s comments. CnEVPost
- SCMP on the “unzipping” proof video after online skepticism. South China Morning Post
- Interesting Engineering and other outlets on DOF/joints and solid‑state battery reporting. Interesting Engineering
- Euronews video framing IRON as second‑generation; broader public view. euronews
- WSJ on XPeng’s 2026 Robotaxi plans; context for the Physical AI strategy. The Wall Street Journal
- Reuters on XPeng’s potential long‑term humanoid investment (up to 100B yuan). Reuters
- NEURA Robotics product pages and announcements for design comparison. Neura Robotics
