- Xpeng plans to lift monthly capacity for its Iron humanoid robot to more than 1,000 units by the end of this year, paving the way for a global roll-out in 2027. - The company plans to deploy Iron as showroom sales assistants in China in the first quarter of 2027, before expanding the service to overseas stores later that year. Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) is accelerating mass production of its humanoid robot as it prepares to take the product to global markets next year. The electric vehicle (EV) maker aims to increase monthly capacity for its Iron humanoid robot to more than 1,000 units by the end of this year, paving the way for a global roll-out in 2027, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Xpeng plans to deploy Iron as sales assistants at its stores across China in the first quarter of 2027, and expand the service to overseas stores later that year, the people said. The move underscores Xpeng's ambition to transform from a smart-car company into a "physical AI company," as it repurposes AI and autonomous-driving technologies developed for EVs for use in humanoid robots. Automakers broadly see growing overlap between smart vehicles and robots in areas including AI large models, perception systems and motion control, the report noted. Xpeng unveiled the new-generation Iron humanoid robot at its AI Day in November 2025, drawing wide industry attention after the robot appeared on stage with a natural and fluid catwalk. The demonstration was so lifelike that it prompted public questions over whether a real person was hidden inside the robot, forcing Xpeng chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng to publicly show its internal structure. The robot, 178 centimeters tall and weighing 70 kilograms, is powered by all-solid-state batteries. It is equipped with 3