Core Insights - Recent high-level departures in NIO's autonomous driving team have raised concerns about the stability of its autonomous driving strategy [1][2][5] - NIO has experienced a total of six key executives leaving its autonomous driving core team since the end of 2024, affecting critical areas such as technology infrastructure and algorithm development [2][4] - NIO's official response characterizes these departures as part of an organizational restructuring to adapt to the development of general artificial intelligence [3][5] Group 1: Executive Departures - The recent departures include key figures such as Bai Yuli, head of the AI platform, Ma Ningning, head of world models, and Huang Xin, head of autonomous driving products, all of whom played crucial roles in the development of NIO's autonomous driving technology [2][3] - Bai Yuli's exit is particularly significant as he was responsible for foundational work in cloud computing and data systems, which are essential for the algorithm iterations of NIO's NAD system [2][4] - The loss of these executives has led to discussions about potential risks in the development of the world model 2.0, with analysts expressing concerns over a possible gap in the research and development process [5][6] Group 2: Organizational Changes - NIO's restructuring aims to create a "4×100 relay baton" model to align its autonomous driving organization with general AI developments, focusing on enhancing the absorption of cutting-edge technologies [3][4] - The company plans to launch iterations of the world model 2.0 between late 2025 and early 2026, with upgrades including the integration of language modules and improved long-sequence processing capabilities [3][4] - Despite the official narrative of proactive strategy, market reactions indicate skepticism regarding the stability of NIO's autonomous driving business, as evidenced by a significant drop in stock price following the news of executive departures [5][6] Group 3: Industry Context - The trend of executive turnover is not unique to NIO; other companies in the new energy vehicle sector, such as Li Auto and Xpeng, have also seen key personnel changes in their autonomous driving teams [6][7] - The competitive landscape is shifting from a focus on functional capabilities to a deeper engagement in AI model development, with companies needing to balance long-term R&D investments against short-term delivery pressures [7]