Xpeng has appointed Liu Xianming as head of its autonomous driving center, replacing Li Liyun, as the Chinese electric vehicle maker deepens its focus on artificial intelligence (AI), according to an internal memo seen by local media outlet LatePost. Li will remain with the company, though his new role has not been specified.
Liu, who holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, joined Xpeng in March 2024 to lead its AI team. He previously worked at Meta and Cruise, General Motors’ autonomous driving unit, specializing in machine learning and computer vision.
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“Liu possesses a background in cutting-edge research within machine learning and computer vision, standing as an outstanding technical expert in AI and autonomous driving,” Xpeng told LatePost. The company said he will lead efforts to apply its physical world foundation model to AI-powered vehicles and enhance its smart driving technology.
The reshuffle marks Xpeng’s most significant change in its autonomous driving division since 2023, when Wu Xinzhou, then vice president of autonomous driving, left to join Nvidia. Since then, the company has accelerated its research into AI large models for next-generation driving systems.
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Chinese outlet Yicai reported that Xpeng plans to announce breakthroughs in physical AI and simulation technology at its upcoming AI Tech Day. The firm’s foundation model, built on one of China’s largest datasets, is designed to advance large-scale level 4 autonomous driving.
Xpeng aims to use its AI-driven platform to enable faster deployment of its “Turing AI” driving systems internationally and extend the technology to AI-powered vehicles and robots, as it seeks to maintain an edge in smart mobility innovation.
