Core Viewpoint - Li Auto has confirmed the departure of its former head of autonomous driving, Lang Xianpeng, shortly after he took charge of the humanoid robot business, which will now be led by Zhan Yifei. The company has been secretly developing humanoid robots for nearly a year under the project code-named Nexus, with plans to release two products: a two-wheeled robot and a bipedal robot, with the former expected to launch mid-year for factory manufacturing scenarios [2][4]. Group 1 - The humanoid robot team at Li Auto has been in existence prior to the recent leadership changes and has been working on the project for almost a year [2][4]. - The two planned products include a two-wheeled robot ready for release in mid-2024 and a bipedal robot, with the development strategy inspired by Tesla's approach to robotics [2][8]. - Li Auto's internal discussions revealed a shift in strategy regarding robotics, with CEO Li Xiang initially hesitant but later recognizing the need for early investment in the sector [4][5]. Group 2 - The Nexus team, consisting of fewer than 30 members, operates under strict confidentiality within the company, leading to some confusion about its objectives compared to other teams [6][7]. - The decision to prioritize a wheeled robot over a humanoid robot stems from the current technological uncertainties in the robotics industry, with many companies opting to follow Tesla's lead [8][10]. - Li Auto's cautious approach contrasts with other companies like XPeng, which has already developed multiple iterations of its robots and plans to launch a new generation by the end of 2026 [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - Li Auto has confirmed the departure of its former head of autonomous driving, Lang Xianpeng, shortly after he took charge of the humanoid robot business, which will now be led by Zhan Yifei. The company has been secretly developing a humanoid robot team under the codename Nexus for nearly a year, with plans to release two products: a two-wheeled robot and a bipedal robot, with the former expected to launch mid-year for factory manufacturing scenarios [1][4]. Group 1: Company Developments - The humanoid robot team at Li Auto has been in existence prior to the recent leadership changes and has been working on the project for almost a year [1]. - The team is led by He Junpei, a hardware partner from the startup Jiuguang Intelligent, and is focused on developing hardware capabilities first before moving to more complex functionalities [4]. - Li Auto's first robot will be a two-wheeled model rather than a humanoid robot, as it is deemed more stable and reliable for factory settings [8][9]. Group 2: Industry Context - The domestic robotics industry has seen rapid development, with 196 financing cases and a total investment of 12.8 billion yuan in the first three quarters of the year [3]. - Tesla has been a significant influence in the robotics sector, having introduced its humanoid robot Optimus and planning to produce 1 million units annually by 2026 [7]. - Other companies, such as XPeng Motors, are also developing robots, with XPeng's AI robot IRON set to launch in late 2026, indicating a competitive landscape in the robotics market [8].