Li Auto Launches AI Strategy with Humanoid Robot Division

Li Auto Pivots to AI Strategy with New Humanoid Robot Division

Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto is making a bold strategic shift toward artificial intelligence, establishing a dedicated humanoid robot division and restructuring its autonomous driving team around foundation models. This pivot comes as the company seeks to transform from an automotive manufacturer into a comprehensive AI player.

The Beijing-based automaker announced the reorganization following an all-hands meeting where CEO Li Xiang outlined his vision for the company's AI future. The restructuring creates two key divisions: a software team led by VP Gou Xiaofei and a humanoid robot team under Senior VP Lang Xianpeng.

Key Strategic Moves

• Foundation Model Focus: Most autonomous driving department employees have been transferred to a new foundation model team led by Zhan Kun, signaling Li Auto's commitment to developing core AI capabilities.
• Humanoid Robotics: The company confirmed it will develop humanoid robots and unveil them "as soon as possible," expanding beyond its automotive roots into embodied AI.
• Timeline Urgency: CEO Li Xiang emphasized that 2026 is the "final year for companies seeking to become leading AI players to establish themselves," with Level 4 autonomous driving expected by 2028.

Business Context

The AI pivot addresses challenges in Li Auto's core business. The company delivered 406,343 vehicles in 2025, falling 37% short of its revised 640,000-unit target. Despite this setback, Li Auto aims to sell approximately 550,000 vehicles in 2026, representing a 40% increase.

Li Xiang believes only three companies globally will succeed across foundation models, chips, operating systems, and embodied intelligence—and Li Auto intends to be one of them. The company's "end-to-end + VLM" autonomous driving solution entered mass production in October 2024, positioning it among industry leaders.

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