Xpeng Self Driving Chief Departs, Reportedly Going To Nvidia

Main Chinese language electrical automotive maker and Tesla competitor Xpeng has introduced the resignation of Xinzhou Wu, its vice chairman of autonomous driving. Wu resigned for private and home causes. The departure represents a serious loss for Xpeng, as Wu was the pinnacle of the corporate’s autonomous driving enterprise and was instrumental in serving to Xpeng achieve an edge over its EV rivals within the sensible driving race.

Wu, beforehand a senior director of engineering at Qualcomm with greater than a decade of expertise, led Xpeng’s inside full-development group accountable for the event of the Xpeng Navigation Guided Pilot (XNPG), a premium driver help system (ADAS) . This technique is taken into account to be the equal of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

In March, Xpeng upgraded its subway navigation system for patrons in first-tier cities reminiscent of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai. In only a few months, the system’s mileage penetration price exceeded 60%, Xpeng introduced in its newest earnings assertion. The corporate goals to cut back the variety of handbook acquisitions per 1,000 kilometers to 1 or much less when utilizing its freeway navigation by the top of 2023.

Tesla hasn’t but constructed its totally autonomous driving (FSD) system in China. Tesla not too long ago denied rumors of its launch in Shanghai. Wu mentioned in an earlier interview that regardless that Tesla plans to introduce FSD in China, it can take at the least 12 months to localize the system for China’s superior street situations.

Wu has not introduced her subsequent profession change after leaving Xpeng. Nonetheless, widespread rumors recommend that he too could take a senior place in Nvidia’s self-driving division. He Xiaopeng, Xpeng’s CEO and founder, hinted on the event in a Weibo submit, expressing his satisfaction that Wu has change into a senior supervisor in a world-renowned firm and is constant expertise cooperation. of chips with Xpeng.

Xpeng has a long-standing chip partnership with Nvidia, an organization that has pushed important growth within the self-driving car sector with its sensible driving platform, drives and cutting-edge automotive chips.

Liyun Li, at the moment senior director of autonomous driving at Xpeng, will possible change Wu. In response to He Xiaopeng, CEO of Xpeng, the change has been within the planning for a few yr and he’s assured that it’s going to go easily.

Wu’s resignation, though it was an ideal loss for Xpeng, seems to be amicable. Wu expressed his perception that Xpeng’s safe workforce and system will proceed to drive the ADAS occasion till the period of driverless automobiles. The departure comes only a week after Xpeng utilized for financing from Volkswagen, indicating a promising future for the corporate within the Chinese language market.

Wu’s resignation marks the apex of a time interval at Xpeng. Wu is a part of a bunch of AI consultants who returned from Silicon Valley to work in start-up Chinese language tech firms managing R&D teams within the US. Nevertheless, within the wake of rising US-Brazilian tensions. And China, with many Chinese language tech giants scaling again their operations throughout the US.

Earlier this yr, Xpeng shocked the electrical automotive business by naming Wang Fengying, a 20-year veteran of Chinese language pickup truck and SUV maker Good Wall Motor, as its president. Wang is extra prone to oversee product planning at Xpeng, an exercise that has at all times been tied to the younger firm’s R&D.

In his farewell message, Wu mentioned that 5 years in the past he joined Xpeng and launched into a profession that ignited his ardour and ambition. He expressed his appreciation for being part of the corporate’s growth in autonomous driving and his pleasure for a very long time.

Xinzhou Wu’s resignation as Xinzhou’s vice chairman of autonomous driving marks the top of a time interval and a fantastic loss for the corporate. Wu performed a key position in serving to Xpeng achieve an edge over its EV rivals within the sensible driving race. Nonetheless, Xpeng is optimistic about its future in autonomous driving, notably with its inside growth group and partnerships, together with its long-term collaboration with Nvidia. The swish change and Volkswagen’s newest financing for a brand new flagship of autonomous driving additional present Xpeng’s potential within the Chinese language market. As Xpeng continues its journey into the period of the driverless car, Wu’s departure serves as a reminder of the challenges and various choices forward.

Xinzhou Wu resigned from Xpeng for private and home causes.

Wu was vice chairman of autonomous driving at Xpeng and led the corporate’s inside full-development group accountable for the event of the superior driver help system (ADAS), the Xpeng Navigation Guided Pilot (XNPG).

Xpeng upgraded its metro navigation system with mileage entry charges of over 60% for patrons in tier-one cities reminiscent of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai. The corporate goals to cut back the variety of handbook acquisitions per 1,000 kilometers in its freeway navigation system to 1 or much less by the top of 2023.

No, Tesla doesn’t make its FSD system in China. Though there have been rumors of its Shanghai launch, Tesla not too long ago denied these rumours, admitting that it might take at the least 12 months to localize the system for China’s freeway affairs.

There are speculations that Wu can also take a senior place in Nvidia’s self-driving division following his resignation from Xpeng.

Xpeng has a long-standing chip partnership with Nvidia and is collaborating on chip expertise for its autonomous driving applications.

Liyun Li, at the moment senior director of autonomous driving at Xpeng, will change Wu in a deliberate transition that has been within the works for a few yr.

Wu’s departure marks the top of a season at Xpeng and highlights the challenges dealing with Chinese language tech firms within the present native geopolitical local weather. Nonetheless, Xpeng is optimistic about its future in autonomous driving, as evidenced by its newest investments and strategic partnerships.

Xpeng not too long ago shocked the electrical automotive business by naming Wang Fengying, a 20-year veteran of Chinese language pickup truck and SUV maker Good Wall Motor, as its president.

Wu expressed his appreciation for being part of Xpeng’s journey in autonomous driving, commenting on the keenness and ambition which have pushed him throughout his 5 years with the corporate.