Xpeng used the Paris Motor Show in October to give members of the public rides in its NGP assisted-driving system on real city streets. The company says it plans to begin offering NGP to European customers at the start of 2027, through over-the-air updates and only in markets where the law permits it.
NGP is an assisted-driving system, not a self-driving one. Xpeng describes it as “Level 2++”, and the driver must keep watching the road and be ready to take over at all times.
What was shown in Paris
Xpeng’s press release, dated 12 October 2026 in Paris, says the test rides covered roundabouts, narrow streets, motorcycle traffic, pedestrian crossings and tricky right-of-way situations. NGP was part of the show’s Autonomous Lab, where Xpeng says it was one of only two carmakers taking part, the other being Tesla.
The system runs on Xpeng’s latest AI model, VLA 2.0, and on the company’s own Turing chips. Xpeng says it needs neither high-definition maps nor lidar; CarNewsChina reports that it relies mainly on cameras, supported by millimetre-wave radar and ultrasonic sensors.
CarNewsChina, which drove an NGP-equipped L03 for about 30 minutes in Paris with a safety driver on board, reports that Xpeng had adapted NGP well to European road signs, roundabouts, narrow streets and pedestrians. Xpeng has also run small-batch test rides in Amsterdam and Munich, where it has had a research centre since September 2025.
Timing and models
In a July release from its Munich brand event (16 July 2026), Xpeng said 2026 would be used for technical preparation and approvals, with a gradual international roll-out from 2027. Chief executive He Xiaopeng said he expected the full NGP functions to be offered internationally at the beginning of 2027. CarNewsChina reports the European launch as the first quarter of 2027.
According to CarNewsChina, the first cars expected to get NGP in Europe are those using Turing chips: the P7+ saloon, X9 people carrier, L03 Ultra and the new G9L seven-seat SUV. It is not clear whether models with Nvidia Orin chips will follow.
The rules
Urban assisted-driving features of this kind fall under UN Regulation 171, the international rule for driver control assistance systems. Xpeng’s July release says the Series 02 update covering urban functions is expected to become part of European law by the end of 2026, and the company says it aims to be the first carmaker certified to it. Those are Xpeng’s statements; certification has not yet been announced.
Xpeng has also signalled that owners may need training. Auto Express reported in June that in China, owners must complete an in-car tutorial and pass a test before the more advanced functions unlock, a step Xpeng introduced when it first launched them there. Xpeng’s Brian Gu told the magazine he expects carmakers to rethink how they demonstrate such systems to buyers.
What it means for the UK
Xpeng has not given a UK date for NGP, and none of its announcements mention Britain. When Auto Express reported in June, Xpeng was selling the G6 in the UK, with the X9 next in line.
Even when NGP is approved in Europe, UK buyers should not assume it will arrive at the same time, or with the same functions. Assisted-driving features are approved country by country, and the exact features offered on British cars will depend on UK approval and on what Xpeng chooses to enable here. Anyone buying an Xpeng now should ask the dealer which driver-assistance functions are active on UK cars today, and treat any promise of future over-the-air upgrades with caution until they are confirmed in writing.
