He Xiaopeng Says XPeng to Take Full Control of Battery Packs Starting in 2026

On the evening of September 17, He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPeng Group, stated in an interview following the XPeng G9L launch event that starting in 2026, XPeng will take full control of its battery development. He clarified that this "self-led" approach does not mean XPeng will manufacture battery cells itself; rather, XPeng will lead the entire chain—from fundamental design to mass production—of complete battery packs, focusing on integrated battery system components such as pack design, BMS (Battery Management System), thermal management, and structural engineering. Battery cells will continue to be supplied by partner vendors. He also revealed that XPeng has invested in three battery cell companies. According to public information, these are CALB (China Aviation Lithium Battery), Sunwoda, and SVOLT Energy, whose cell products have gradually entered XPeng’s power battery supply chain. He Xiaopeng further disclosed that, beyond Volkswagen, XPeng is currently in discussions with additional automakers and non-automotive companies regarding potential collaborations in areas including technology and chips. In August 2026, XPeng Group delivered a total of 39,107 vehicles, up 4% year-over-year. Additionally, Li Auto recently made a strategic cash investment of RMB 2.65 billion in Sunwoda EV Battery. The new generation of Li Auto’s L8 model has fully transitioned to Sunwoda-supplied power battery cell solutions. Meanwhile, Xiaomi Auto’s latest vehicle model features its self-developed Longjia battery system, with cells jointly supplied by CALB and Sunwoda.