Here are the major developments in embodied intelligence and assisted driving this week:
Former Li Auto Executives Co-Found Embodied AI Startup
Gasgoo Auto has learned that in April, Chen Wei, former chief AI scientist at Li Auto, and Zhang Xiao, former head of the company's second product line, co-founded Xieyue Intelligent, an embodied intelligence firm. The company has completed its first funding round, backed by Li Auto and Vision Plus Capital, and is currently finalizing business registration changes.
Records show Xieyue Intelligent was established in February 2026 with three entities in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen. All three list Zhang Xiao as the legal representative with a registered capital of 1 million yuan each. The core team has clear roles: Chen Wei serves as chairman and CTO, while Zhang Xiao is CEO.
Chen Wei spent nearly a decade at Sogou before joining Li Auto, where he led the development of in-vehicle large models like MindGPT and MindVLA, focusing on foundation models and on-device intelligence. Zhang Xiao, an early core member of Li Auto, spearheaded the product definition for hits like the Li Auto L9, specializing in identifying consumer needs and building products for family scenarios.
Just two months in, Xieyue Intelligent has assembled a team of nearly 20 people across offices in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen, and is recruiting talent in robotic motion control, multimodal perception, and human-robot interaction. The company has a clear market positioning: unlike most embodied AI firms targeting industrial B-end applications, Xieyue is focusing squarely on home scenarios, planning consumer-grade embodied intelligent products for ordinary users.
Editor's Note: Spending Li Auto's money to do what Li Auto can't do — yet.
Schaeffler and ROKAE Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement
On April 7, Schaeffler and ROKAE officially signed a strategic agreement to cooperate on the R&D, supply, and deployment of core components like humanoid robot joint modules.
Image source: Schaeffler
Under this partnership, ROKAE provides full-stack robotic technology, mature R&D and manufacturing capabilities, and extensive industrial deployment experience. Schaeffler leverages its expertise in high-performance sensors, harmonic reducers, and precision machinery to jointly build industry-leading integrated joint modules for embodied AI robots.
The collaboration also covers the supply of humanoid robot components and whole-machine deployment, creating a closed-loop ecosystem spanning "R&D," "supply," and "application scenarios."
Schaeffler is accelerating its push into the humanoid robot sector. On February 27, 2026, it established Schaeffler Embodied Intelligence Robotics (Taicang) Co., Ltd. in Taicang, Suzhou, focusing on the R&D and production of core components and key subsystems for humanoid robots.
In March, Schaeffler further expanded by partnering with Leju Robot, focusing on industrial applications, data training, and new technology development to advance humanoid robot deployment.
Editor's Note: One brings core tech, the other brings machine R&D and scenario experience. It's a new model of "German manufacturing + China deployment."
RoboSense Q1 Sales Soar 204.1%; Robot Business Outpaces Automotive for First Time
On April 8, RoboSense released its latest sales figures. Total sales of LiDAR products reached 330,300 units in the first quarter of 2026, a jump of 204.1% year-over-year.
The robotics business continued its explosive growth, with sales hitting 185,500 units — a 1,458.8% surge. This accounted for 56.2% of total sales, overtaking the automotive LiDAR business for the first time to become the company's primary growth engine.
In the robotics sector, RoboSense has secured an early lead in several fast-growing niches thanks to the first-mover advantage of its proprietary chips. It ranked first in sales across five segments: robotic mowing, autonomous delivery, humanoid robots, embodied intelligence, and commercial cleaning. It also became the 2025 champion in LiDAR shipments for the robotics sector.
Building on this, RoboSense is poised to maintain its sales leadership in the broader robotics market this year. Notably, its new robotic vision category, Active Camera, is set for mass production this year, marking RoboSense's strategic evolution from a single-category sensor provider to a "physical AI core perception base."
Editor's Note: The battle for automotive LiDAR isn't over, but the war drums for the robotics race are already beating.
Agibot A3 First Batch Delivered to Rental Platform
On April 9, Agibot's new humanoid robot, the A3, was unveiled at the 2026 SHAREBOT held by the robot rental platform BOTSHARE. BOTSHARE announced that the first batch of A3s will be delivered to signed city partners starting in April. These units mark the industry's first large-scale delivery of the A3 model.
Image source: Agibot
In February, Agibot released the new generation full-size humanoid robot, the Yuanzheng A3. Designed for high-frequency human interaction scenarios like guided tours and entertainment, the A3 features light manipulation capabilities, performing tasks such as gripping, operating, and delivering in areas like exhibition halls, front desks, and lounge bars.
Significantly, this is the first time a rental platform has handled the market launch of a new model so early. It means BOTSHARE is doing more than just "renting machines" — it has the potential to become a critical gateway for new robots to enter the real market for scenario validation, market education, and application exploration.
Editor's Note: The rental market is a touchstone. We'll see if the A3 can truly deliver after a few months of market feedback.
3 Billion in 30 Days: Spirit AI Bags Another 1 Billion
On April 7, Spirit AI announced the completion of a new 1 billion yuan financing round.
Just prior to this, Spirit AI announced two consecutive rounds in late February totaling nearly 2 billion yuan. This means that in just one month, Spirit AI has secured nearly 3 billion yuan across three funding rounds.
Founded in February 2024, Spirit AI is dedicated to building general-purpose models for embodied intelligence to advance robotics technology. Its humanoid robot, "Xiaomo," is already operational at CATL's Zhongzhou base as a core piece of production line equipment.
On March 19, Spirit AI signed a strategic partnership with JD.com. Its self-developed Moz robot has been fully integrated into JD MALL's smart retail scenarios. In high-precision coffee-making tasks, the Moz robot not only achieved stable operation but also closed the loop on "data collection and model iteration" in a real commercial environment.
Editor's Note: Embodied AI hasn't learned to walk yet, but it's already learned to count money.
ENGINEAI Completes $200 Million Series B
Gasgoo Auto has learned that ENGINEAI has officially closed a $200 million Series B round. With this round, ENGINEAI's valuation has surpassed 10 billion yuan.
Image source: ENGINEAI
ENGINEAI is dedicated to building humanoid robots that combine high intelligence with flexible movement. To this end, it has established full-stack R&D capabilities in robot body design, core component development, and control algorithms. It has launched a range of products, including the lightweight companion SA02, the PM01, and the full-size general-purpose T800, forming a gradient product portfolio covering bipedal and full-humanoid forms in various sizes.
Editor's Note: The "full-stack self-developed" card has been played through the Series B. The next stop is delivering a mass production report card.
D-Robotics Closes $150 Million Series B2 Round
On April 8, D-Robotics completed a $150 million Series B2 round. Notably, on March 16, the company had just closed a $120 million Series B1 round, bringing its total Series B financing to $270 million.
In 2025, D-Robotics' annual shipments surged 180% year-over-year, and the client base grew 200%. Top-tier clients now cover the full spectrum from mature consumer-grade products to cutting-edge embodied intelligence robots. To date, it has launched over 100 robot products, becoming the "greatest common denominator" behind an increasing number of hits.
The developer ecosystem is growing rapidly, with over 100,000 developers across more than 20 countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. Its "Gravity" innovation acceleration plan has served over 500 SMEs, helping more than 200 teams launch successful products, making Digua a top choice for intelligent robotics startups.
Editor's Note: Behind the $270 million lies a validation of D-Robotics' value as a "water seller."
Pony.ai Launches Europe's First Commercial Robotaxi Service
On April 8, Pony.ai partnered with autonomous mobility service Verne and global platform Uber to officially launch commercial Robotaxi operations in Zagreb, Croatia. This marks the first commercial service of its kind open to the public in Europe.
Image source: Pony.ai
Starting immediately, Zagreb residents can book rides via the Verne app. The service will later be integrated into the Uber app to expand its reach.
Initially, the service covers about 90 square kilometers, including Zagreb's city center and the airport. Operating hours are from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily. The coverage area will gradually expand to the entire city to improve accessibility and convenience.
Pony.ai has made breakthroughs in multiple regions globally: In Europe, it is conducting public road tests in Luxembourg and has launched commercial operations in Croatia; in the Middle East, it is approved for testing in the UAE and has commercial Robotaxi services in Qatar; in Asia, it is testing in Seoul, South Korea, and operating passenger services in Singapore. Its international footprint continues to expand.
Editor's Note: Planting a flag on the European map is easy; balancing the books is what true global expansion looks like.
