XPeng Tests VLA 2.0 on Munich Roads: Camera-Only Self-Driving Gets a Global Debut

Camera-Only / Pure Vision Architecture

XPeng has publicly shifted to a pure vision approach — CEO He Xiaopeng stated in May 2026 that LiDAR is no longer necessary for cars . The company’s new models, including the GX SUV and its mass-produced robotaxi, all employ a camera-only, no-LiDAR, no-HD-map strategy . The Mona L03 features 21 cameras and zero LiDAR .

One caveat: some reports indicate XPeng still uses radar as a backup sensor, distinguishing its approach from Tesla’s pure-camera system. The radar serves as a safety layer: “if there is something physical obstructing the path, then prioritize this information over visual data and halt” .

Turing AI Chips

The VLA 2.0 system is powered by XPeng’s proprietary Turing AI chip. In top configurations, a single Turing chip delivers up to 2,250 TOPS of effective computing power . The Mona L03 features dual Turing chips with a combined 1,500 TOPS in its highest variant . XPeng’s robotaxi uses four Turing chips for a total of 3,000 TOPS .

Volkswagen as First External Customer

Volkswagen has been named as the first external customer for XPeng’s VLA 2.0 large model and Turing AI chip. This was announced at XPeng’s AI Day in November 2025 and confirmed in a March 2026 press release . The deal marks the commercialization of XPeng’s AI technology beyond its own vehicle lineup — Volkswagen will adopt the Turing AI chip and VLA 2.0 system in upcoming projects . The announcement noted that global deliveries of VLA 2.0 are planned for 2027, with Volkswagen designated as the inaugural launch partner for the Chinese market .

Mona L03 Simultaneous Global Launch — July 16 in Munich

• Event: Global launch of the Mona L03 SUV in Munich on July 16, 2026, at 1:00 pm local time (7:00 pm Beijing time) .
• Synchronized launch: The vehicle is being unveiled simultaneously in China and Europe — a first for XPeng, breaking from the conventional sequence of domestic rollout followed by overseas expansion .
• Pre-sales in China: Opened July 2, 2026, priced from RMB 143,800 (~$21,200) with all-electric and extended-range variants .
• Availability: Sales planned across 64 countries and regions by year’s end .

European Expansion Plans

• XPeng’s Managing Director for the UK and Europe, Elvis Cheng, confirmed the Mona series will debut in Europe starting in July with the L03, followed by a new premium SUV in October 2026 .
• XPeng UK sales more than doubled in June 2026 ahead of the L03 and X9 debut .
• The company is also in discussions with Volkswagen and other potential partners about additional European manufacturing .

Broader Robotaxi Ambitions

• XPeng’s robotaxi equipped with VLA 2.0 began public road testing, with trial operations scheduled to start in the second half of 2026 .
• In May 2026, XPeng rolled China’s first mass-produced robotaxi off the assembly line in Guangzhou — built entirely with in-house technologies, operating at L4 level without LiDAR and without HD maps, delivering up to 3,000 TOPS of computing power with latency below 80 milliseconds .
• Global deliveries of VLA 2.0 are planned for 2027 .