Li Auto Establishes Silicon Valley AI R&D Center, Intensifies Competition for Autonomous Driving Talent
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Chinese EV maker Li Auto is establishing an AI R&D center in Silicon Valley to focus on advanced autonomous driving technology. The move aims to tap into global talent to compete in the smart EV sector, following similar steps by rivals NIO and XPeng.
According to sources cited by 36Kr on December 18, Chinese EV maker Li Auto is formally establishing a new AI research and development center in Silicon Valley. The center will focus on advanced intelligent driving technologies, with recruitment efforts already underway for several months.
The move represents a strategic upgrade of Li Auto’s existing North American presence. Previously, the company maintained only a small U.S. team supporting chip-related AI work. The new center is intended to become a fully functional R&D hub, targeting frontier areas such as advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving, while recruiting top-tier AI talent with cutting-edge expertise. This follows Li Auto’s earlier establishment of an overseas R&D center in Munich, further expanding its global research footprint.
Among China’s leading EV startups—NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto—both NIO and XPeng set up Silicon Valley R&D centers in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Li Auto’s move signals a growing consensus among Chinese smart EV companies on the importance of competing for talent in global AI hubs. Silicon Valley remains the world’s undisputed center for AI and autonomous driving innovation.
The report notes that high-end talent at the intersection of large models and autonomous driving remains scarce in China. Establishing a direct presence in Silicon Valley is seen by Li Auto as a key way to access global expertise and overcome these bottlenecks.
Source : IT Home
