At the 2026 China Auto Chongqing Forum held from June 12th to 13th, NIO Inc. founder, chairman, and CEO William Li delivered a speech outlining the company's approach to enduring market cycles.

Core Principles for Enduring Challenges

When asked about navigating industry cycles, Li stated that NIO Inc. first insists on creating value for users and operating around their interests. Starting last year, the company has been advancing a comprehensive organizational transformation focused on user value creation. The goal is to clearly define the value each action brings to users, which Li considers fundamental to a company's survival.

Strategic Investment in Technology

Secondly, Li emphasized unwavering investment in technological innovation. He noted that while NIO Inc.'s overall R&D expenses have decreased compared to previous years, investment in foundational core technologies has actually increased. The reductions are in application development. For instance, the company will discontinue vehicle models or global market versions where the return on investment is not justifiable. "If it doesn't make money, we won't do it," Li said.

However, he stressed that the company remains committed to heavy investment in underlying core technologies, including chips, operating systems, intelligent driving, materials, and high-voltage related components and systems.

Commitment to Infrastructure Expansion

Thirdly, Li affirmed a firm commitment to infrastructure investment. He revealed that NIO Inc. plans to deploy an additional 1,000 battery swap stations this year.

Fostering Industry Collaboration

Fourth, Li advocated for strengthening industry cooperation through a philosophy of "win-win共生." In his view, promoting chip standardization and battery cell normalization could bring industry-wide cost-saving opportunities worth hundreds of billions. "No one loses this money; everyone gains," he explained.

NIO Inc. has maintained an open approach, offering its chips, operating systems, and battery swap network to the industry and collaborating on the supply chain. Li described this as a necessary joint effort for the industry to navigate a difficult transition period. He believes significant opportunities exist to save money that does not create user value, framing it not as a zero-sum competition but as a win-win process that ultimately benefits users.