Industry dynamics

Xpeng reportedly restructures R&D team to focus more on end-to-end tech

Publishtime:2019/08/16 Views:10

Xpeng has reorganized its structure to focus on end-to-end AI large models in line with changes in the smart driving technology route, according to local media.

Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) has reportedly overhauled its organizational structure, similar to local peers Nio (NYSE: NIO) and Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI), to increase its bet on end-to-end technology.

Xpeng has reorganized its organizational structure in line with the changes in the smart driving technology route, with the new structure focusing on end-to-end AI (artificial intelligence) large models, according to a report in local media outlet Redplanx today.

The restructuring mainly involves the technology development department, which is Xpeng's algorithm development department, covering algorithm development for perception, planning, control, and localization, according to the report.

Following the realignment, Xpeng's technology development department was split into three divisions -- AI end-to-end, AI applications, and AI efficiency, the report said.

The realignment tweak meant that Xpeng split its algorithms team into two main functions, with one responsible for model development and the other for feature delivery, the report noted.

This is a round of R&D organizational restructuring triggered by a change in technology route, after Nio and Li Auto have already adjusted their teams.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) released FSD V12 earlier this year, which brought good results. That made the end-to-end large model technology used by Tesla an industry consensus, and more car companies in China are starting to try the route.

Another local media outlet, LatePost, reported in a June 19 story that Nio has reorganized its smart driving team to focus more on end-to-end technology that are seen as better solutions.

Nio merged the perception and planning control teams into the large model team, and the integration team was reorganized into a technology delivery team, according to LatePost.

On July 17, 36kr reported that Li Auto had formed an end-to-end large model autonomous driving team of just over 200 people, with some members of other teams providing flexible support.

The Li Auto smart driving team is divided into two main groups, algorithm development and mass production development, with a team size of about 800 people, the report said.

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