XPeng The sky’s the limit with connected vehicles The adoption of advanced AI and connectivity services has meant cars are now essentially networks on wheels, and manufacturer XPeng is aiming to create networks on the ground and in the air Cars. They used to be really simple. They were vehicles that you drove from A to B. You turned the key, and away you went until you needed petrol. You filled up and kept driving. For entertainment, you listened to the radio, cassette, CD or eight-track. You got your car serviced. Engine oiled, tuned. Really simple. But now? It’s a very different story. Here are just some of the recent comments that have been made about the latest version of cars by technology leaders. A new “computing space”. A new “paradigm for transport”. A machine “you can have a natural conversation with”. And even a “special kind of robot” in a world “where screens are the new horsepower”. Interestingly, the latter comment was made by a very senior research scientist at a mobile processor developer, and while one could argue how fanciful the proposition is, it is a revelation of just how connected the robotics, automotive, connectivity and IT industries are and will be. Not only is a car now a network on wheels, but it’s also a hub of an array of information, entertainment, AI, navigation, safety and even driving applications. Oh, and potentially able to fly – something that will likely be made possible by the XPeng brand. It may actually be a little unfair to simply describe Guangzhou-based XPeng, founded in 2014, as a car company. From the perspective of actual products, the company regards itself as working in the field of intelligent mobility with the mission of exploiting the full potential of mobility from vehicles on