Thousands of electric vehicle (EV) makers have been springing up in the past few years in China, the world's largest market for this new energy trend. Competition is tough.

Most of these startups will die eventually, and only a few will survive, said He Xiaopeng, the founder and chairman of one of China's top EV makers, Xpeng. To become the last survivor, the company is betting on smart technologies such as autopilot, which He believes will give it an edge to eventually dominate the domestic and international markets.