Zhuang Li joined NIO as Vice President of NIO software development (China) in July 2016, responsible for the Internet of Vehicles business, TSP (Telematics Service Provider) and so on.
Chinese tech media 36Kr reported on June 29 that Zhuang Li, Vice President of NIO software development (China), had recently left the company.
"Zhuang Li left for personal reasons, and the job transition has been fully completed," Qin Lihong, President of NIO, was quoted as saying in the 36Kr report.
Zhuang Li joined NIO, one of China’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, in July 2016. As Vice President of NIO software development (China), she oversaw businesses ranging from Beijing's Internet of Vehicles and TSP (Telematics Service Provider) to Shanghai's vehicle-related central control.
Zhuang’s departure followed the resignation in mid-December, 2018, of Padmasree Warrior, former CEO of NIO North America. Warrior was responsible for the North American business and reported to the headquarters in China on matters including automatic driving technology, digital system, information architecture, among others., Li Bin, founder and CEO of NIO, is directly in charge of the information architecture unit. In the past, CDC (intelligent cockpit) business team was also connected with China and reported to Zhuang in Beijing.
NIO's changes to its North American reporting lines had landed Zhuang in a position of higher authority and managerial responsibility. However, in May, media reported that she had taken part in the establishment of the Internet of Vehicles company Meijia (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Meijia Technology 镁佳科技"), signalling the possibility of her leaving NIO to start her own business.
Meijia Technology was founded in August 2018 as a wholly-owned company registered in Hong Kong, whose legal person is Liu Wei, according to Qixinbao (企信宝), a business registration information portal. The company's business spans intelligent digital cockpit systems, vehicle-based networked controllers, intelligent voice interaction systems and other products, which heavily overlap with Zhuang's former responsibility at NIO.
With the departure of Zhuang, NIO is in need of reshuffling its software team. So far the US-listed EV maker (NYSE: NIO) hasn’t named any executive to take over Zhuang. NIO’s shares dipped 5 US cents, or 1.92%, to close at USD 2.55 as of press time.