XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng is expanding efforts to showcase the company's VLA 2.0 autonomous driving system to international media and influencers. The company claims VLA 2.0 requires five times fewer driver interventions than Tesla's FSD v13.2.9. XPeng delivered 27,415 vehicles in March (up 80% sequentially but down 17% year-over-year), with Q1 deliveries of 62,682 units down 33.3% annually but within guidance.

The week saw significant developments across consumer tech and semiconductors. EV makers Tesla, Nio, and XPeng reported strong growth, with Nio delivering 35,486 vehicles (136% YoY increase). Apple's iPhone 17 showed steady demand with higher Pro model adoption. Meta plans new Ray-Ban smart glasses launches. In semiconductors, major players like Microsoft, IBM, AMD, and Intel announced strategic AI initiatives, while TSMC secured approval for advanced 3nm production in Japan. Autonomous vehicle services expanded with WeRide and Grab launching Singapore's first driverless public ride service.

Major tech companies made significant announcements this week: Netflix and Sony raised prices on streaming and gaming services; OpenAI warned of dependency risks on Microsoft; Arm Holdings entered chip production with its AGI CPU; Tesla reported strong delivery expectations; and various semiconductor and AI companies announced partnerships and expansions. Additionally, Snowflake laid off its documentation team in favor of AI-generated content, and a judge temporarily blocked efforts to sideline Anthropic.

Leapmotor achieved its first annual net profit of 540 million yuan in 2025 with deliveries doubling to 596,555 units, outperforming peers Nio and XPeng through aggressive low-pricing strategy. However, the company faces sustainability concerns with thin profit margins (0.83%), heavy reliance on financial income, surging debt, and vulnerability to rising lithium battery costs. Analysts remain bullish on overseas expansion and R&D capabilities, but the company must reach 2 million annual sales to ensure long-term viability.

Chinese EV maker XPeng is set to report Q4 earnings Friday with expected revenue of $3.32 billion, but faces scrutiny over significant delivery declines in early 2026. The company is banking on its IRON humanoid robot production and a joint Volkswagen electric SUV to regain investor confidence, with shares down 20% over the past year.

Several large-cap technology and energy stocks rallied last week driven by AI momentum, EV optimism, and data-center demand. Top gainers included Nebius (up 29.59% after NVIDIA partnership), NIO (up 21.12% on strong earnings and HSBC upgrade), Micron (up 16.99% on AI collaboration), SanDisk (up 27.60%), and others in the semiconductor and clean energy sectors.

Rising gas prices driven by Middle East tensions could accelerate EV adoption, but the relationship is complex. While higher fuel costs may influence consumer interest, EV purchases are hindered by higher upfront costs, uneven charging infrastructure, and limited model availability. Historical data from 2022 shows EV market share doubled when gas prices spiked, but sustained price elevation is needed to drive meaningful behavioral change. Chinese manufacturers with integrated supply chains may be better positioned to capitalize on global EV growth.

The week saw major chip earnings reports with mixed results, geopolitical tensions around AI and Chinese tech investments, and significant corporate partnerships. Key developments include Broadcom and Marvell beating earnings expectations, the Trump administration refuting negotiations with Anthropic AI while imposing restrictions on its use, and major tech companies announcing AI infrastructure investments and content licensing deals.

Nio stock rose 5.56% after announcing cumulative deliveries exceeded 1 million vehicles. The Chinese EV maker reported strong March orders and expects adjusted operating profit of at least $100 million for Q4, signaling a potential path to profitability. Broader markets also gained with the S&P 500 up 0.78% and Nasdaq up 1.29%.

Xpeng is breaking ground on a 1.18 million sq. ft. humanoid robot factory in Guangzhou, China in Q1 2026, targeting large-scale production of its IRON robot by year-end. The robot, standing 5'10" and weighing 171 lbs, incorporates Vision-Language-Action architecture and aims to compete with Tesla's Optimus. Xpeng plans to produce over 1 million units by decade's end for applications in tour guiding and retail services.

Ford is pursuing a potential partnership with China's Geely to strengthen its struggling European operations. The deal would involve Ford producing vehicles for Geely using excess capacity while gaining access to shared technology, including autonomous driving capabilities. This partnership could help Ford learn cost and manufacturing efficiencies from Chinese competitors, similar to Volkswagen's successful collaboration with Xpeng, which has enabled faster and cheaper vehicle development.

The global Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) market is projected to grow from USD 62.33 billion in 2025 to USD 96.80 billion by 2035 at a 4.50% CAGR, driven by rapid electrification, autonomous driving adoption, and the shift to software-defined vehicles. Major automakers including BYD, Tesla, and Volkswagen are scaling EV production, while semiconductor suppliers and component manufacturers are investing heavily in advanced control architectures and manufacturing capacity to meet surging demand.