Li Auto plans to establish a research and development office in Hong Kong focused on chip technology, as reported by local media outlet LatePost. The new office, intended to serve as an international technology exchange center, will be part of Li Auto’s chip pre-research division, employing approximately ten individuals.
The team will primarily handle software development related to smart driving chips. According to sources familiar with the matter, Li Auto is actively seeking candidates with expertise in chip design technology, advanced processes, and the capability to conduct comprehensive research and investment within the chip industry.
Li Auto is working on two in-house chip projects: an AI chip designed for smart driving applications and a silicon carbide (SiC) power chip intended for motor controllers. The AI chip utilizes an architecture akin to Tesla’s Hardware 5.0, comprising approximately 40 billion transistors, and has already been submitted to TSMC for the tape-out process.
The smart-driving chip is anticipated to achieve tape-out results in the fourth quarter of this year, with plans to begin integration into vehicles in 2026. Tape-out refers to the critical phase in integrated circuit design, where a finalized circuit design is prepared for mass production.
