Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng’s former Vice President and Head of Autonomous Driving, Wu Xinzhou, has announced his move to U.S. artificial intelligence giant Nvidia. While the specific role at Nvidia hasn’t been disclosed, Chinese media outlet Jiemian News indicates Wu might assume the position of Head of Automotive Products.
No Immediate Details Released
Details regarding Wu’s new role at Nvidia have not been immediately available. Wu left Xpeng this month and shared his career move on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, with a photo of himself alongside Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang and Xpeng’s Chairman He Xiaopeng.
A Focus on Autonomous Driving
During his time at Xpeng, Wu played a crucial role in leading the company’s autonomous driving development efforts. His team, consisting of over 1,000 engineers based in China and the United States, worked towards advancing autonomous driving technology.
Strong Demand for Nvidia’s Chips
Chinese automakers like Xpeng have shown significant interest in Nvidia’s chips to power intelligent systems in their vehicles. Nvidia recently exceeded expectations with its quarterly revenue forecast and highlighted surging demand from China, underlining the country’s growing interest in advanced technology for automotive applications.
Xpeng’s Plans and Collaboration
Xpeng, one of China’s top 20 best-selling EV makers, is actively enhancing its advanced driver assistance software. The company aims to provide all of its advanced functions to drivers across China by 2024, positioning itself competitively against U.S. rival Tesla.
Chairman’s Perspective
Xpeng’s Chairman, He Xiaopeng, mentioned in a social media post about Wu’s departure that he anticipates ongoing collaboration with Wu in various areas, including chip technology.
The move of Wu from Xpeng to Nvidia highlights the growing synergy between technology companies and automakers. As the automotive industry continues to embrace AI and autonomous driving, collaborations like this one are expected to drive innovation in the electric vehicle sector.