Former Xpeng VP Joins Humanoid Robot Startup as Mass Production Talent War Escalates
The humanoid robot industry is pivoting from 'showcasing demos' to 'mass production.'
As a result, automotive executives are becoming the most sought-after talent pool for robot companies.
On August 6, multiple independent sources reported that Chen Yonghai, former Vice President of Product at Xpeng Motors, has officially joined Zhongqing Robotics as COO, reporting directly to CEO Zhao Tongyang.
Chen has known Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng for 15 years. He joined UC, founded by He, in 2010, and after a stint there, he moved to Xpeng in 2022. At Xpeng, he led the product center and was responsible for planning and launching the company's three-year product roadmap.
After leaving Xpeng in January of this year, Chen initially considered starting his own robotics venture. However, Zhao's personal invitation convinced him to bring his experience to Zhongqing, which is now at a critical juncture—transitioning from laboratory experimentation to large-scale commercial delivery.
Zhongqing has made significant strides. In April, it completed a $200 million Series B funding round, pushing its valuation past $1 billion. In May, the first batch of T800 humanoid robots came off the production line in Zhengzhou. With dual bases in Shenzhen and Zhengzhou, the company is aiming for an annual output of 10,000 units, a milestone that industry insiders consider the dividing line between a bespoke workshop and industrialized operations.
Chen's background is particularly valuable here. At Xpeng, he managed the entire vehicle lifecycle—from product definition to development, manufacturing, supply chain, and customer service. This is exactly the capability Zhongqing needs as it scales up production. An insider noted that Chen's ability to 'identify the right scenarios and target users' is crucial for breaking through in the commercial robotics market.
Chen is not the first automotive executive to make the leap. In April, Li Liyun, former head of autonomous driving at Xpeng, joined Zhongqing as CTO, focusing on the 'brain' (AI large models). Earlier, a former executive from Li Auto also joined a different robot company. This wave of migration reflects a fundamental shift in the industry's competitive dynamics.
The industry is moving from 'To A' (academia) to 'To B' (business). According to Unitree's prospectus, in the first three quarters of 2025, 73.6% of humanoid robot revenue came from scientific research, while industrial applications accounted for only 9.01%. In the B2B market, the competition hinges on mass production capability, cost control, supply chain management, and product definition.
However, as one insider pointed out, the automotive approach may not be directly transferable. Cars are long-cycle iterative products, whereas robots currently have a risk structure of 'small batches, fast iteration.' Automotive methodology is useful, but it needs to be adapted. Chen's move to Zhongqing might be the key step to win the mass production race.