Notable Roles | - Founder, Chairman & CEO, Li Auto Inc. |
Key Recognition | - NASDAQ IPO: Raised $1.1B for Li Auto, 2020 |
Background and Early Foundations
Li Xiang was born in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, and showed entrepreneurial ambition from a young age. In 2005, he founded Autohome, which grew into China’s leading automotive website and was listed on the NYSE in 2013. After exiting Autohome, he launched Li Auto in 2015 with a bold vision to bridge the gap between consumer anxieties and electric vehicle adoption — introducing EREVs as a transitional yet scalable solution. He’s widely regarded as one of the most visionary figures in China’s mobility revolution.
Career Milestones and Impact
Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
2005 | Founded Autohome, China’s largest car-buying website (later NYSE-listed) |
2015 | Established Li Auto with focus on extended-range electric vehicles |
2020 | Took Li Auto public on Nasdaq, raising $1.1 billion in one of the year’s largest Chinese IPOs |
2022 | Launched flagship full-size luxury SUV, the Li L9 |
2025 | Expanded Li Auto into Europe and Middle East with the Li MEGA all-electric lineup |
- IPO Milestone: Li Auto raised $1.1 billion on Nasdaq in 2020
- Vehicle Lineup: Li L7, L8, L9, and fully electric Li MEGA
- 2024 Revenue: ~$6.6 billion USD
- EV Market Share: Among top 3 domestic EV manufacturers in China (by sales volume)
- Global Expansion: Operations launched in Germany, Norway, and UAE (2025)
Leadership Style and Influence
Li Xiang leads with product obsession, strategic timing, and consumer empathy. He is known for conducting meticulous market research and rapidly iterating based on user feedback — a habit he developed during his media tech years. His decision to prioritize extended-range vehicles before full electrification gave Li Auto an edge with mass-market Chinese consumers. His quiet, engineer-driven leadership style has drawn comparisons to Elon Musk — but with a uniquely Chinese approach to scale and pragmatism.
Legacy and Future Focus
Li Xiang’s legacy is tied to building two game-changing platforms — first in automotive media with Autohome, then in smart mobility with Li Auto. He has shifted perceptions of what a homegrown Chinese auto brand can achieve globally. As the company accelerates into fully electric vehicles and autonomous driving, Li aims to redefine not only how cars move — but how they integrate into intelligent, family-centered lifestyles.
