Turing Chip Integration in Volkswagen EVs
Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng has announced that its proprietary Turing chip will be integrated into select Volkswagen models launching in China next year. This marks a significant shift in the global automotive chip supply chain, challenging Nvidia’s dominance.
Chip Technical Breakthrough
The Turing chip delivers 750 trillion operations per second (TOPS). The new Xpeng G7 SUV uses up to three chips, exceeding 2,200 TOPS—over three times the computing power of Nvidia’s Orin-X. Industry analysis notes that a single Turing chip matches the performance of three Nvidia Orin X chips (each at 254 TOPS). The G7’s unveiling drew over 10,000 pre-orders within an hour, signaling strong market interest.
Strategic Partnership with Volkswagen
This chip integration builds on Volkswagen’s $700 million investment in Xpeng in 2023, which secured a 5% stake and access to advanced EV technology. Engineers from both companies collaborate in Guangzhou and Hefei to develop next-generation electronic architectures for Volkswagen’s China operations. According to Volkswagen board member Ralf Brandstätter, “From 2026, all all-electric vehicles of the Volkswagen brand in China will be equipped with this very powerful and efficient architecture.”
Chip R&D Commitment
Xpeng invests about $700 million annually in AI-related technologies, nearly half its total R&D budget. The Turing chips project began in 2020, with successful production testing achieved in August 2024.
Broader Turing Ambitions
Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng told the Financial Times that the Turing chips is designed for “cars, aircraft, and robotics,” supporting the company’s AI models. Xpeng is also in talks to supply the chip to other automakers, though no partners have been named. “We are looking for long-term partners,” He said, as Xpeng aims to disrupt the autonomous vehicle semiconductor market.
