By Michael Elkins
Chinese electric vehicle maker, Xpeng Inc (NYSE:XPEV) announced Friday that the automaker is upgrading its advanced driver assistance software and plans to make all of its functions available to drivers across China by 2024, as it seeks to gain an edge over U.S. rival Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA).
Xpeng’s XNGP Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) is similar to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, which the U.S. automaker rolled out four years ago but has yet to make available in China despite customers urging it to do so.
The company currently offers its driver assistance software in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, for drivers of its G9 Max and P7i Max cars. During the remainder of the first half of the year, Xpeng plans to update the system to enable vehicles in more cities to react to traffic lights and avoid obstructions like construction work, pedestrians and cyclists at intersections, the company said.
Further updates in the second half would enable vehicles to automatically change lanes, overtake and make left or right turns, it said.
It is aiming for the software to be available and functional across China by 2024, it added.
Shares of XPEV are down 1.62% in afternoon trading on Friday.