XPeng Turns Self‑Driving Tech into Licensing Business, Finds Buyers

XPeng is pivoting its self‑driving and smart‑cockpit platforms into a licensing model, courting automakers, suppliers and software firms beyond its current Volkswagen partnership, Reuters reports. The company is offering its technology under a commercial framework similar to Tesla’s long‑promoted “Full Self‑Driving” strategy, but XPeng has already attracted interest from potential partners. By monetizing its autonomous systems, XPeng seeks to expand its influence in the automotive ecosystem without building new vehicles. The move signals a shift in how Chinese automakers are monetizing software, potentially accelerating the deployment of advanced driver‑assist features across a broader range of models. Tesla, in contrast, has yet to secure takers for its own licensing approach.