Li Xiang: My Wife Was Introduced by Mao Kankan, and I am Deeply Saddened by His Passing

CNBC AI News – July 30th — As Li Auto celebrated the unveiling of its i8 model, CEO Li Xiang sat down for a revealing interview with Luyu on her program, “Beyond the Heatwave.”

During the conversation, Li shared deeply personal reflections, notably highlighting the profound impact of Mao Kankan on his life. “Mao Kankan was incredibly important to me,” Li stated. “He introduced me to a significant number of my friends, including my wife. Even the gaming team I play with today was originally organized by him a decade ago.”

Li confessed that Mao Kankan’s influence played a vital role in his personal growth and well-being. He expressed immense sorrow over Mao’s passing.

Li Xiang and his wife were recently spotted attending a soccer match in Changzhou. 

Shifting the focus to family, Li emphasized his belief that the relationship between parents and children is reciprocal. He stated that it is not simply a case of parents fostering their children’s growth, but rather, children fostering their parents’ growth. He articulated his conviction that by valuing, trusting, and supporting each child’s unique characteristics, they can flourish.

“This has greatly impacted me. If I can’t even make a positive difference in my own child’s life, why would I think I could bring change to others?”

Li illustrated his point with a hypothetical scenario: If his daughter expressed a desire to forgo university in favor of launching a startup, he would likely support her decision, emphasizing that “she is making a choice, not answering a right or wrong question.” This highlights Li’s progressive views on education and entrepreneurship.

“The same goes for my wife: she’s exceptionally dedicated to maintaining our family unit. I need her far more than she needs me.” He added, highlighting his deep appreciation for her commitment.

The couple pictured in front of the New York Stock Exchange during Autohome’s IPO over a decade ago.

Beyond the introspective moments, Li showcased his lighter side by live-streaming a session of Overwatch with Luyu. Notably, Li’s in-game handle was “AmpGo,” a throwback to the English trademark for his now-defunct SEV (Smart Electric Vehicle) project – a detail that hints at his entrepreneurial ventures and lessons learned along the way.

Li revealed that his Overwatch teammates are a tight-knit group of old friends, including childhood buddies, fellow gamers introduced by Mao Kankan, and partners from his ventures, Pop.cn and Autohome. This provides a glimpse into the collaborative circles that have shaped his career.

“We even got schooled pretty badly by Han Han and his professional gaming team,” Li chuckled, highlighting the competitive spirit that extends beyond the boardroom.

Mao Kankan, a prominent figure in China’s early wave of tech entrepreneurs, tragically passed away on January 24, 2018, at the age of 34. His death, ruled a suicide, sent shockwaves through the industry.

Alongside Li Xiang, Dai Zhikang of Comsenz, and Gao Ran of Mysee, Mao Kankan was recognized as one of Beijing’s “Four Young IT Elites.” Mao, who founded his own company in his early 20s, even appeared on CCTV’s “Dialogue,” achieving national prominence and solidifying his place as a symbol of China’s burgeoning tech scene.