Nio CEO William Li Sits Down With Qualcomm China Chair: Cars Are the 'Core Engine' Pushing AI Forward — Here's Why
Nio CEO William Li Sits Down With Qualcomm China Chair: Cars Are the 'Core Engine' Pushing AI Forward — Here's Why
Shomik Sen BhattacharjeeThu, April 2, 2026 at 12:01 AM UTC
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Qualcomm Inc.‘s China Chairman Frank Meng said the auto industry could do for artificial intelligence what smartphones once did for mobile computing, arguing that cars are becoming the next major platform pushing AI into real-world use.
Cars Push AI Beyond Chatbot Era
In a recent interview with Nio Inc. CEO William Li, Meng said the speed of change in autos is now helping set the pace for AI because vehicle users cannot tolerate dropped connections or delays. "Why? Because even though 5G and wireless networks like WiFi are fast enough, automotive users cannot tolerate any interruptions. It's simply unacceptable," he said.
🎬 ET9 Talks Ep.45 is LIVE!Had an insightful chat with Mr. Frank Meng, Chairman of Qualcomm China.He shared an interesting view: the auto industry will become the core engine driving AI forward. Why did he see it that way? Catch the full episode.Let's Power Up! Let's… pic.twitter.com/HNRoqfJbEk
— William Li (@WilliamLiNIO) March 30, 2026
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Meng described cars and robots as forms of "physical AI," contrasting them with more static tools such as chatbots. He said the shift from mobile internet to AI changes the user experience because, instead of waiting for commands, AI systems can sense surroundings, coordinate actions and make decisions in milliseconds. That helps explain why automakers have become a central proving ground for AI development, he said.
Memory Crunch Clouds Next AI Phase
He also warned that the current memory squeeze may not ease soon. Meng said he expects the crunch to last "at least another 2 years, through 2026 and 2027," as demand for AI infrastructure keeps rising across vehicles, phones, PCs and other connected devices. He said some industries will still be able to secure supply, though at higher prices, while others may face shortages.
The conversation also pointed to Nio's broader strategy for its ET9 flagship, which Li has framed as a kind of mobile living environment with more emotionally aware features, reflecting how China's electric-vehicle sector is blending long-term bets such as battery swapping with near-term commercialization.
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Nio’s Q4 Earnings
Nio's push comes as its financial results have improved sharply earlier this month. The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $4.95 billion, up 75.9% from a year earlier, with adjusted earnings of RMB0.29 per ADS, compared with a loss of RMB3.17 per ADS a year earlier.
Deliveries rose 71.7% to 124,807 vehicles, while vehicle revenue climbed 80.9%.
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