Recent reports from a self-media article claimed that Li Auto's former intelligent driving head, Lang Xianpeng, frequently heard CEO Li Xiang tell him "Don't work anymore." The article stated Lang Xianpeng allegedly revealed he heard this phrase almost weekly from the CEO, though not always directed at himself. This report gained significant attention but also faced skepticism from online users.

First, while the article references "recent" disclosures, public records show no recent statements by Lang Xianpeng. Some netizens suggested the self-media account took his words out of context. The original context indicates Lang Xianpeng previously shared that Li Xiang once gave him a stern warning: "If I don't see changes in the second half of the year, and if we can't achieve a leading position in intelligent driving, then you as the head don't need to continue."

Verified information confirms that on December 26, 2024, during Li Auto's "2024 AI Talk" event, Dr. Lang Xianpeng, then head of intelligent driving R&D, first publicly mentioned this exchange. When the host asked if the CEO had considered firing him, Lang jokingly responded, "I think he wants to fire me several times every month—basically every week he says, 'Lang Xianpeng, don't work anymore.'" Reportedly, Li Xiang was highly dissatisfied with the intelligent driving team's progress at the time and issued the serious ultimatum about achieving top industry status.

Lang emphasized this pressure reflected strategic demands for the team to lead the sector, not personal targeting. The "second half of the year" reference and Lang's late-2024 disclosure confirm Li's comments were made in the first half of 2024. Although the original article inaccurately cited "recent" revelations, the essence of the remarks exists in earlier records.

Notably, Lang Xianpeng has since departed from Li Auto. All four founding members of the intelligent driving team have now left the company. Lang once compared this management style to "tightening screws"—applying pressure when needed and replacing parts during upgrades. The intensely results-driven approach uses pressure to accelerate performance.

These accounts underscore Li Xiang's strong emphasis on intelligent driving capabilities. While the high-pressure management model remains controversial, it propelled the team to achieve rapid advancements—transitioning from supplier dependency to full-stack in-house development, including launching an end-to-end VLM solution in October 2024 and the VLA driver model in August 2025.

Since the second half of 2025, at least six Li Auto executives have departed, spanning key divisions like intelligent driving, product, and supply chain. On February 14, multiple media outlets reported Dr. Lang Xianpeng's resignation as Vice President of Intelligent Driving and former head of autonomous driving and humanoid robot R&D. Having joined Li Auto in January 2018 as the first employee in autonomous driving, Lang advanced from R&D director to senior vice president, leading the development and iteration of Li Auto's intelligent driving system.