title: "XPeng VLA 2.0 Test Drives Launch March 11 Across 732 Stores" slug: xpeng-vla-2-test-drives date: 2026-03-10 category: technology tags: [xpeng, autonomous, vla, technology, china] source_url: "https://cnevpost.com/2026/03/10/xpeng-to-kick-off-vla-2-0-test-drives-mar-11-analysts-see-autonomous-leap/"
XPeng launches public test drives of its VLA 2.0 autonomous driving system on March 11 across 732 stores in China. Three models qualify initially: P7 Ultra, G7 Ultra, and X9 Ultra. Full rollout to all Ultra models follows in late March, with OTA updates for other models in April and overseas markets in 2027.
VLA 2.0 claims a 23% improvement in overall driving efficiency over the previous version, with gains up to 76% on narrow roads. Chip utilization rate sits at 82.5%. XPeng says the system delivers "a driving experience on par with seasoned human drivers" and has invited comparative reviews against competing systems.
Why It Matters for Sales
XPeng's January-February 2026 deliveries total 35,267 units, down 42% year-over-year. Deutsche Bank forecasts 530,000 units for full-year 2026, representing 23% growth. The gap between current trajectory and full-year target is significant, and VLA 2.0 is the technology XPeng is betting on to close it.
Autonomous driving capability is increasingly a purchase driver in China's EV market. Huawei's ADS system helped make the Aito M7 a volume seller. XPeng needs VLA 2.0 to do the same for the P7 and G6 lineups.
The real test is whether demo drives at 732 stores convert to orders. The March-April rollout timeline positions VLA 2.0 as a Q2 sales catalyst. XPeng's 2026 delivery target of 550,000-600,000 vehicles depends on it.
