Zhang Xiao, who currently holds the position of President overseeing Li Auto's second product line and leads the i8 project, is reportedly on the verge of resigning, though the underlying reasons for his departure remain shrouded in mystery. As one of the pioneering members of Li Auto, Zhang Xiao embarked on his journey with the company in 2016. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the product definitions for key models, including the Li ONE and L9. Additionally, he was entrusted with the strategic planning of Li Auto's vehicle lineup.

Li Auto has categorized its product offerings into three distinct tiers based on pricing. Zhang Xiao was specifically at the helm of the second product line, which encompasses models priced within the range of 300,000 to 400,000 yuan. He had previously articulated that each product line is imbued with unique missions and objectives.

There are whispers in the industry suggesting that Zhang Xiao's resignation might be intricately linked to the underwhelming sales performance of the Li Auto i8. Following its market debut, the vehicle fell short of internal sales projections. Notably, the Pro variant of the i8 was discontinued less than a week after its launch, and subsequent price adjustments were made for certain trims to stimulate demand.