Li Auto founder and Chief Executive Li Xiang reaffirmed the company’s strategic focus on artificial intelligence during a company-wide meeting this week, even as some employees expressed concern that slowing vehicle sales were not being adequately addressed, according to a report by Chinese media outlet 21jingji.
Li hosted a nearly two-hour online meeting with employees on Monday morning Beijing time, much of which centered on his assessment of AI development trends. During the session, Li said 2026 would be the final window for companies aiming to emerge as leaders in artificial intelligence, and that Level 4 autonomous driving technology could be realized by 2028 at the latest, the report said. He also outlined plans to further position Li Auto as an “embodied intelligence” company rather than solely an automaker.
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The meeting, which was organized at short notice, came as the company faces pressure from weaker-than-expected sales. Some employees said they were surprised by the limited scope of the discussion. “Right now, AI-related content isn’t my priority, nor is it the most urgent matter. I’d rather hear reflections and reviews on the company’s top-priority tasks at this stage, along with Li Auto’s overall strategy for 2026,” one employee was quoted as saying by 21jingji.
Li also told staff that Li Auto plans to expand beyond vehicles into humanoid robotics and reorganize its research and development structure to better compete in AI, splitting teams into foundational models, software and hardware units.
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Vehicles and future robots would both fall under the hardware division, according to the report. Despite the internal debate, Li maintained that AI would be central to the company’s long-term competitiveness as it navigates near-term market challenges.
