Episode #228 - Li Auto Implodes, XPeng Attacks, Huawei Expands, and NIO Fights for Breakeven

China EVs & More is back with a special Thanksgiving episode — and the China auto world did not take the week off. 🚗⚡🦃
Tu & Lei break down Li Auto’s shocking Q3 collapse, CEO Li Xiang’s pivot to “embodied AI,” and why the brand is losing momentum to Xiaomi, XPeng, NIO, and Huawei-backed models.
We analyze XPeng’s aggressive 2025–26 EREV + BEV rollout, including seven new models and its “super range extender” strategy, plus the deepening Turing chip adoption and XPeng’s personal L4 + RoboTaxi ambitions.
Then we dive into the Guangzhou Auto Show, Huawei’s expanding HIMA ecosystem, the launch of new Yijin and Qijin brands, and how Huawei QianKun ADAS is quickly spreading across Nissan, Audi, GAC, Toyota, and more.
We close with NIO’s Q4 breakeven challenge, Firefly’s global potential, Stellantis–Leapmotor tensions in Latin America, and updates on Waymo, Zeekr RT, Aito M5, robotaxis, and physical AI’s impact on factory jobs.
Insightful, energetic, and brutally candid — your weekly download on the global EV and mobility power shift.

🕒 Timestamps / Chapters
00:00 – Intro & Thanksgiving kickoff
01:30 – Li Auto’s disastrous Q3: losses, Mega fire fallout & EREV reset
03:30 – Li Xiang goes “embodied AI” + M100 chip vision
05:30 – Li Auto’s 2026 L-Series refresh & Russian Doll design rethink
07:50 – “Who’s hot, who’s not” — Xiaomi, XPeng, Leapmotor surge
08:30 – XPeng’s 7-model onslaught: BEV + EREV + L4 plans
10:10 – XPeng Turing chip, humanoid robot & L4 Robo versions
12:00 – Physical AI: robots, automation & factory disruption
15:10 – NIO earnings: Q4 breakeven, SG&A burn & ES8/Onvo push
16:50 – Firefly’s growing overseas role & NIO’s three-brand prioritization
19:30 – Leapmotor–Stellantis expansion and emerging market friction
21:00 – Xiaomi’s immunity to PR crises & massive user base advantage
23:00 – “Five to ten years to know the winners” — William Li’s marathon analogy
24:00 – New brands at GZ Auto Show: Yijin, Qijin & Huawei’s expanding influence
28:00 – Huawei QianKun ADAS spreads to Nissan, Audi, Toyota
30:00 – AV/ADAS wars: Momenta, Horizon, DeepRoute rising
32:00 – LiDAR drama: Hesai vs RoboSense & chaos in the lidar space
35:00 – Robotaxis: WeRide–Uber launch, Pony & LA/SD growth
37:00 – Tu drives the Aito M5 in California
38:00 – Waymo coverage expands: airports + 2026 Detroit launch
42:00 – Zeekr RT issues & Tesla vs Waymo RoboTaxi paths
47:00 – AV startups struggle: Haomo AI collapse & Great Wall pivot
50:00 – GM “Game of Thrones”: executive shakeups & culture reset
53:00 – Volkswagen speeds up China dev cycles & exports back out
55:00 – Audience Q&A & Thanksgiving wrap

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