Chinese carmaker XPENG has been testing a prototype of its L03 on Amsterdam roads ahead of a European launch.
The car uses the company’s XNGP system with VLA 2.0, its latest driver assistance software.
The test took place on 11 September and was kept low profile.
Larry Evans of CleanTechnica rode in the L03 and then in a Tesla Model 3 running FSD on the same roads.
The Netherlands is the first place in Europe to allow Tesla’s FSD.
A prototype on narrow roads
The L03 was a pre-production car that still had some camouflage.
Because of prototype testing and insurance concerns, Evans was not allowed to drive, so Longwen from XPENG’s Munich office drove both cars.
The route included narrow canal-side roads, construction, double-parked vehicles, pedestrians and many cyclists, and intermittent rain made it harder still.
Evans described the system as one that anticipates traffic and acts assertively, with only a few moments of hesitation.
It was cautious around construction work, leaving large gaps to construction vehicles and plenty of room for cars that were parking.
Cyclists and speed bumps
The car tended to spot cyclists early, judge their speed and distance and then make its turn.
Cyclists never seemed to need to brake or swerve, but the gap it left was not large.
The Dutch content creator who rode in the car afterwards would have preferred more room.
The system slowed gently for potholes and speed bumps, braking more for larger bumps. No other drivers sounded their horns during the drive.
The driver stepped in three times: to move into a lane near construction, to pass a car partly blocking the road and to close a gap behind a construction vehicle.
The system stayed engaged throughout.
European release planned for 2027
Voice control of the driving system is being rolled out in China but was not yet on the European test car.
XPENG expects a public European release in 2027.
Evans summed up the L03 as feeling “like a competent Chinese driver rapidly learning the driving customs of another country.” His second part of the review will cover the Tesla.
You can watch a video of the test drive here.
If you plan on getting behind the wheel yourself, read our tips on driving in Amsterdam.