Chinese automaker XPeng opened reservations on Friday for a hardware upgrade to its Turing AI Chip platform for the G7 Ultra and the new P7 sedan.
The company’s in-house developed chip, which was unveiled a year ago, provides 750 tera operations per second (TOPS) of in-cabin computing power.
Customers can now schedule their visit through the XPeng app, as the chip must be installed under the front passenger-side floor carpet.
According to the company, “this upgrade only involves the Cockpit Spirit chip, which is a large-scale model controller.”
XPeng reassures that the process “does not involve any dismantling of the vehicle and will not affect your subsequent normal use.”
Remaining Chip Integration
When the G7 launched in early July, it became the first model to feature the AI Turing advanced chip.
The SUV is equipped with three of these chips, giving it a total computing power of 2,250 TOPS.
The new P7, which debuted in late August, features the same composition.
Contacted by EV, a spokesperson clarified that customers received their models with 2 XPeng AI Turing chips and one Qualcomm Snapdragon chip upon delivery.
By then, the company’s founder and CEO He Xiaopeng promised that the remaining Turing chip would be added in November.
Currently, both the G7 and P7 models are only available for purchase in China, but the sedan will be offered in European markets as well next year.
All P7 iterations are Ultra, with prices starting from 219,800 yuan (about $31,050).
The entry-level G7 is priced from 195,800 yuan ($27,650), while the Ultra variant begins at 225,800 yuan ($31,890).
AI Turing Capabilities
Earlier this year, the company’s chief executive told the Financial Times that the chip’s performance is “three times greater” than the ORIN X developed by the world’s largest company, Nvidia.
However, Nvidia’s most recent THOR chip offers similar computing power to the AI Turing.
By then, XPeng‘s chief said the brand aimed to supply its in-house developed chip to other car manufacturers, “looking for long-term partners” besides Volkswagen.
During the brand’s ‘AI Day’ event held earlier this month, the integration of the chip in upcoming VW models in China has been confirmed.
Volkswagen partnered with XPeng in 2023 to jointly develop vehicles for the Chinese market. The first model, recently unveiled by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information (MIIT), is set to begin production next year.
A few days later, local media also reported that South Korean Hyundai Group is in talks with XPeng to license its autonomous driving tech.
