从 Cruise 到小鹏，刘先明为何能接任智驾一号位？

Core Viewpoint - The appointment of Liu Xianming as the new head of Xiaopeng's autonomous driving center signals a strategic shift towards AI-driven models in the company's smart driving technology [2][3][12]. Group 1: Leadership Change - On October 9, Xiaopeng Motors announced the departure of Li Liyun from the position of head of the autonomous driving center, with Liu Xianming taking over [2]. - Liu Xianming's appointment is seen as a necessary move for Xiaopeng to build new technological barriers in the face of increasing competition from rivals like Li Auto and Huawei [3][12]. Group 2: Strategic Shift - Xiaopeng's autonomous driving strategy is transitioning from an engineering logic focus to an AI logic approach, emphasizing the development of a "base model" for smart driving [4][12]. - The company aims to leverage AI and data to regain its competitive edge in autonomous driving capabilities [12][13]. Group 3: Liu Xianming's Background - Liu Xianming joined Xiaopeng in March 2024 and has a strong background in model research, having previously worked at Facebook and Cruise [6][8]. - His experience in AI infrastructure and end-to-end development positions him well to lead Xiaopeng's efforts in building a unified AI model development department [11]. Group 4: Industry Context - The shift in Xiaopeng's leadership reflects a broader industry trend moving from traditional engineering-driven approaches to data-driven and model-centric paradigms in autonomous driving [13].