As part of a partnership announced last year with Luminar, Volvo will start selling cars with LiDAR sensors integrated into the roof in 2022. This will allow Volvo cars underpinned by the company's new SPA 2 modular vehicle architecture like the next-generation XC90 to incorporate full-self driving technology for highways and more advanced safety technology.

However, China's Xpeng has already beaten Volvo to it with the P5, the world's first production car with built-in LiDAR sensors integrated into the front fascia. Only the range-topping 550P and 600P trims will be fitted with LiDAR sensors, however. Taking the form of an electric sedan, the P5 is Xpeng's third EV following the G3 SUV and the P7 sedan.

According to Xpeng, the P5's LiDAR sensors can accurately recognize vehicles, pedestrians, and small obstacles on the road, even in tunnels and low-visibility conditions such as darkness, fog, rain, or snow. The two LiDAR sensors combine with 12 ultrasonic radars, five millimeter-wave radars, 13 high-definition cameras, and a high-precision positioning unit.

As a result, Xpeng's Autopilot-style Navigation Guided Pilot system can change lanes, automatically follow cars, and recognize speed limits and traffic lights in cities. It can also automatically park the car in recognized locations. Xpeng previously demonstrated the capabilities of its Navigation Guided Pilot system on over 1,800 miles of Chinese highways with the P7 sedan. On average, the system only required 0.71 corrections per 62 miles.

All versions of the Xpeng P5 are powered by a single electric motor generating 207 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque, enabling the electric sedan to accelerate from 0-60 mph in around 7.5 seconds. Three battery sizes will be available including 55.9 kWh, 66.2 kWh, and 71.4 kWh, offering ranges of up to 460 km (286 miles), up to 550 km (341 miles), and 600 km (373 miles) respectively based on China's CLTC cycle.

Inside, the interior can be configured into a private movie theater complete with an eight-speaker surround sound system and a projection screen. In China, Xpeng's Tesla Model 3 rival will start at 157,900 yuan (around $24,500), with first customer deliveries starting in October. Potentially, the P5 could eventually arrive in America as Xpeng might export vehicles like the P7 sedan to the US.