<div id="readability-page-1"><blockquote><ul><li>Li Auto's autonomous driving chief will become head of hardware operations, primarily overseeing robotics development.</li><li>Li Auto's autonomous driving team will be integrated into the software team.</li></ul></blockquote><figure id="attachment_135947"><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cdn.cnevpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026012903070986.jpg?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="1600" height="900" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cdn.cnevpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026012903070986.jpg"/><figcaption id="caption-attachment-135947">(File photo shows a Li L8. Image credit: CnEVPost)</figcaption></figure><p>Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI, HKG: 2015) continues to restructure its team as part of its efforts to intensify its focus on robotics and AI (artificial intelligence).</p><p>The company's autonomous driving head, Lang Xianpeng, will become head of hardware operations, primarily responsible for robotics R&amp;D, local tech media outlet Leiphone reported on Wednesday.</p><p>Lang, a senior vice president, will report to Li Auto president Ma Donghui and no longer oversee autonomous driving operations.</p>    <div>        <p><span>Join us on </span>            Telegram            <span> or </span>            Google News        </p>    </div><p>The report noted Li Auto has restructured its R&amp;D system into three major teams: the foundation model team, software team, and hardware team.</p><p>The restructuring highlights the dissolution of the autonomous driving team, which will be integrated into the software team led by Gou Xiaofei, according to the report.</p><p>Gou will oversee Li Auto's intelligent cockpit and smart driving R&amp;D, also reporting to Ma.</p><p>Zhan Kun will lead Li Auto's foundation model team, responsible for integrating VLA (Visual-Language-Action) and in-house developed chips, reporting to CTO Xie Yan.</p><p>With AI's rapid rise in recent years, companies including Li Auto are making significant bets on the field.</p><p>Li Auto founder, chairman, and CEO Li Xiang reiterated the company's AI commitment during an internal meeting on Monday, sharing his insights on AI trends.</p><p>Li emphasized that 2026 represents the final window for companies aspiring to become leading AI players, while Level 4 autonomous driving could be achieved by 2028 at the latest, according to a 21jingji report.</p><p>Li Auto will further strengthen its brand positioning as an embodied intelligence company, not merely as a creator of mobile homes, Li said.</p><p>Beyond automobiles, the company will roll out humanoid robots, which will debut as soon as possible, the Li Auto CEO said.</p>    <div>        <div>            <p><img width="768" height="432" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cdn.cnevpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026012304070644-768x432.jpg?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cdn.cnevpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026012304070644-768x432.jpg"/>                            </p>        </div>        <div>            <p>Short interest in Li Auto surges to record high as firm remains heavily targeted by short sellers</p>            <p>Li Auto has been the most heavily shorted Chinese automaker since last September.</p>                    </div>    </div>                                                                                    </div>

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<p>Li Auto's head of autonomous driving, Lang Xianpeng, will transition to lead hardware operations focusing on robotics R&D. The company is restructuring its R&D into three teams: foundation model, software, and hardware, integrating the autonomous driving team into the software division. CEO Li Xiang emphasized the importance of AI, aiming for Level 4 autonomous driving by 2028 and plans to develop humanoid robots. Li Auto has also seen a surge in short interest, becoming the most shorted Chinese automaker since last September.</p>

- Li Auto is restructuring its team to enhance its focus on robotics and AI, with Lang Xianpeng transitioning to head of hardware operations.  
- The autonomous driving team will merge into the software team, now overseen by Gou Xiaofei, as part of a new R&D structure comprising three main teams.  
- CEO Li Xiang emphasized that 2026 is a crucial year for leadership in AI, highlighting plans to develop humanoid robots and achieve Level 4 autonomous driving by 2028.

Li Auto's head of autonomous driving shifts to robotics R&D, report says