The Agenda: China's tech leaders on AI cars, robotaxis and the mobility revolution

Artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize the way we get around. From smarter technology in the cars we drive to driverless robotaxis, its impact on the future of travel and even on the design of the cities and towns we live in will be huge. China has placed technological advancement at the heart of its 15th Five-Year Plan. So, in this episode of The Agenda, Juliet Mann speaks to two titans of the Chinese tech industry about the future of mobility: Brian Gu, vice-chair and president of XPeng, and James Peng, CEO and co-founder of Pony AI. 00:00 The future of mobility, physical AI and robotics 00:47 Brian Gu on XPeng and the global EV reset 01:11 What is driving EV demand worldwide? 02:22 How XPeng navigates global markets 03:55 Expanding in Europe amid tariffs and trade friction 05:06 Localization and regional EV supply chains 06:00 From battery range to AI-powered mobility 07:13 Why XPeng is built around R&D 08:32 How close are we to autonomous driving? 09:55 Consumer adoption of smart driving technology 10:48 Level 4 autonomy and the rise of robotaxis 12:32 Barriers to scaling autonomous driving globally 14:02 Physical AI and the next frontier of mobility 15:55 Why XPeng is investing in humanoid robots 18:18 James Peng on Pony.ai and autonomous transport systems 19:39 Robotaxis as part of a wider mobility ecosystem 20:41 Pony.ai’s real-world driverless operations 21:49 Lessons from testing on real roads 22:40 Partnerships with cities, platforms and regulators 23:35 Regulatory challenges across different markets 24:42 Pony.ai's experience in Zagreb 25:23 The business model for robotaxis and logistics 26:12 Competition in China’s autonomous mobility sector 26:56 Why autonomous driving is moving faster in China and the US 27:34 Autonomous driving as physical AI 28:12 The limits and challenges of physical AI 29:03 Watch more on The Agenda 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel and stay updated with our latest analysis and interviews:👇 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgrNz-aDmcr2uuto8_DL2jg 👈 Download our APP on Apple Store (iOS): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cctvnews-app/id922456579?l=zh&ls=1&mt=8 Download our APP on Google Play (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imib.cctv For more: https://www.cgtn.com/video Most watched videos: Impossible Challenge: 30 seconds to count banknotes BLINDFOLDED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmP_Ybj-jws Impossible Challenge: Gymnastics Boy Arat Hosseini from Iran! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sxX--U4c8w Impossible Challenge: How to calm babies in 5 seconds? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR3q9sXM7WA