THE ESSENTIALS IN 30 SECONDS

  • XPeng vice president Gu Jie said at an automotive engineering conference on October 28 that IRON's dedicated solid-state batteries have entered small-batch production.
  • XPeng did not say whether the cells are all-solid-state, and gave no figures for energy density, capacity, runtime or volume.
  • The robot itself has not reached start of production; XPeng still targets mass production by the end of 2026 and deliveries in 2027.

XPeng has moved a key component of its humanoid robot into production. Gu Jie, a vice president at the Chinese electric-vehicle maker, said on October 28 that the solid-state batteries developed specifically for IRON are now coming off the line in small batches. He made the remarks at the annual conference of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China, according to CnEVPost and ChinaEVHome.

What XPeng disclosed

The company describes the pack as a high-energy-density design shaped to fit the cramped interior of a humanoid body. XPeng says it drew up new battery standards for robots, including a design meant to stop thermal runaway from spreading between cells, and that the batteries survive impact and nail-penetration tests.

Much was left unsaid. XPeng gave no energy density, capacity, runtime, production volume or cost figures. It also did not say whether these are all-solid-state cells. That matters: when it unveiled the new IRON in November 2025, XPeng said the robot would use all-solid-state batteries, but a Chinese outlet, Jipian Lab, reported in September that the production version would switch to semi-solid cells because all-solid-state technology was not ready in time. CnEVPost notes that the new statement does not clarify which chemistry is now in production.

Where IRON stands

The battery milestone comes ahead of the robot itself, which has not yet reached start of production. XPeng began pilot production at its Guangzhou plant in July and formally opened the IRON line on September 8, when the first unit completed automated final assembly and walked off the line.

XPeng's stated plan is to begin mass production by the end of 2026, then launch IRON commercially in China and abroad in 2027. Early units are expected in commercial settings such as XPeng stores, industrial parks and shopping malls, helping shoppers and introducing products, with industrial and household uses to follow later. ChinaEVHome reports that the robot runs on three of XPeng's in-house Turing AI chips.

Why batteries matter for humanoids

Battery life is one of the main practical limits on humanoid robots, which must carry their own power in a small, moving frame. Solid-state chemistries promise more energy in less space and lower fire risk, but large-scale production remains difficult even for carmakers. Until XPeng publishes specifications or independent testers get access, it is not possible to judge how much the new packs extend IRON's working time.