Xpeng CEO's Emotional Robot Reveal Shuts Down Skeptics

At what was supposed to be a routine technology showcase, Xpeng Motors CEO He Xiaopeng delivered one of the most raw and unexpected moments in recent tech history. During the Xpeng X9 Super Extended Range launch event, an emotional He took a knife to his company's prized IRON robot - while it was still powered on.

The Controversy That Sparked It All

The trouble began when Xpeng first unveiled its next-generation IRON robot on November 5th. Viewers were amazed by its fluid, cat-like movements - so amazed that many refused to believe what they were seeing. Online forums buzzed with theories that a human operator must be inside the mechanical frame.

"When we opened that zipper to show the mechanical components, I'll admit I felt heartbroken," He told the audience, his voice catching. He drew parallels to a memorable scene from the Chinese film Let the Bullets Fly, where a character must resort to extreme measures to prove his honesty: "Sometimes you have to open your belly just to show you only ate one bowl of rice."

A Painful But Necessary Demonstration

Just one hour before taking the stage, He and his team made a difficult decision. They would perform live "surgery" on their $150,000 prototype - cutting through its synthetic skin and muscle-like exterior layers while keeping it operational.

"We've never done this before," He emphasized as technicians carefully sliced into the robot's leg casing. "The IRON is our child. But we hope this will be the last time we need to prove it's truly autonomous."

The gamble paid off. As sparks flew (literally), audiences could clearly see the intricate network of servos and actuators working beneath the surface - no human operator in sight.

Battling Preconceptions About Chinese Tech

Between demonstrations, He shared his frustration about what he sees as persistent bias against Chinese innovation. "If this same technology came from Boston Dynamics or Tesla, people would be cheering," he noted. "But when it's from a Chinese company? Suddenly everyone's an expert calling it fake."

The CEO drew parallels to early skepticism about China's electric vehicle industry: "Ten years ago, nobody believed Chinese EVs could compete globally. Now look where we are."

What's Next for Xpeng Robotics?

The dramatic reveal wasn't just about settling debates - it served as a bold introduction for Xpeng's ambitious robotics roadmap:

• Mass production of advanced humanoid robots by Q4 2026
• Open architecture allowing user customization and secondary development
• Continued focus on biomimetic movement algorithms

"This isn't just another gadget," He concluded as technicians wheeled away the now-exposed robot. "We're building platforms that will redefine how humans and machines coexist."

Key Points:

• Xpeng CEO performed unprecedented live dissection of operational robot prototype
• Move aimed to disprove theories about hidden human operators
• Company plans humanoid robot mass production within two years
• Incident highlights ongoing challenges for Chinese tech innovators gaining global trust