Biography
Li Xiang, born in October 1981 in Hebei Province, is one of China's most influential and successful serial entrepreneurs of his generation. A high school dropout with an innate passion for technology and an obsessive focus on user needs, he has founded three highly successful companies: PCPop, Autohome, and Li Auto.
His entrepreneurial journey began in 1999 while still in high school, when he launched the IT-focused media site PCPop, which quickly grew into a leading platform. In 2005, he identified a new opportunity in the automotive sector, founding Autohome. Under his leadership, Autohome became the world's most-visited automotive website and successfully listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2013.
After achieving significant success in the internet and media worlds, Li Xiang turned his attention to his ultimate passion: building cars. In 2015, he founded Li Auto (formerly CHJ Automotive) with a unique and pragmatic approach to the electric vehicle transition. Focusing on solving the range anxiety of Chinese families, he pioneered the commercialization of Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs). As Chairman and CEO, he has steered Li Auto to become one of China's premier EV manufacturers, known for its product clarity, operational efficiency, and profitability.
Education Background
- Self-taught (Left high school to pursue entrepreneurship)
Major Achievements
- Founded PCPop, his first venture, while still in high school.
- Founded Autohome and led it to a successful IPO on the NYSE, creating China's largest online auto platform.
- Founded Li Auto, a leading Chinese EV manufacturer, and led it to IPOs on both the Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
- Pioneered the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) market in China with the Li ONE.
- Established Li Auto as one of the few profitable EV startups globally.
Business Philosophy
Li Xiang is a product manager in his very DNA. His philosophy is rooted in a deep, almost obsessive, understanding of user needs. He focuses on creating "hit products" for a clearly defined market segment—initially, Chinese families—and solving their most pressing pain points, such as range anxiety. He is famously data-driven, direct, and maintains a laser focus on operational efficiency and controlling costs, a discipline that has set Li Auto apart from many of its cash-burning competitors.
Innovation and Impact
Li Xiang's impact spans both the digital and physical worlds. With PCPop and Autohome, he transformed how Chinese consumers get information about technology and cars. With Li Auto, he challenged the conventional wisdom of the EV industry. While rivals chased a "pure EV" future, Li's pragmatic focus on EREVs as a transitional technology proved to be a brilliant market strategy, perfectly matching the needs of a huge segment of Chinese consumers. His success has established him as a giant in the global automotive industry and a role model for a generation of entrepreneurs.