XPeng requires drivers to pass test before using autonomous features

Requiring users to demonstrate competence before unlocking autonomous driving is a meaningful departure from the typical approach of burying liability in a terms-of-service checkbox. It signals that XPeng is treating driver readiness as a genuine safety variable, not just a legal formality — which matters as regulators worldwide watch how Chinese EV makers handle autonomy rollouts. Whether this becomes an industry norm or stays a brand differentiator will depend on how seriously the test is actually designed and enforced. For now, it's a rare case of a manufacturer putting friction between a customer and a feature for reasons that appear substantive rather than cosmetic.