China grants new self-driving permits to Xpeng and a Volkswagen joint venture

Xpeng may now run “demonstration operations” of its Yoyo driverless taxis in the capital of Guangdong province, under a licence the company announced Monday on social media. The licence allows paying passengers and is seen as the final major test for fleet operators before regulatory approval for commercial operations. The approvals push the global robotaxi sector closer to a projected $1 trillion market by 2040.

Source: South China Morning Post, published on October 27, 2026.