Electric CEO: The Leaders Driving the Electric Car Revolution
The electric car industry is no longer defined only by batteries, range, or market capitalization. Behind every brand there is a story—visionary profiles who have turned ideas into global companies. Today, we spotlight six of them: the CEOs leading Tesla, Xiaomi, BYD, Li Auto, XPeng, and NIO.
Elon Musk: The CEO Who Made Tesla Synonymous with Electric Cars
The most media-driven figure on this list. Musk turned Tesla into a synonym for electric cars, placing sustainable mobility at the center of the global conversation. More than a CEO, he is a “tech showman”: blending innovation, risk, and a public persona that keeps him constantly in the spotlight. His disruptive style has inspired a generation of entrepreneurs—though not without controversy.
Lei Jun and Xiaomi: From Smartphones to Electric Cars
The founder of Xiaomi entered the automotive sector in 2021. His vision is clear: bringing Xiaomi’s philosophy of high-quality products at competitive prices into the EV market. With the launch of the SU7, Lei Jun aims to make Xiaomi a serious contender both inside and outside China, leveraging its vast tech ecosystem.
Wang Chuanfu: The Founder of BYD and Global EV Leader
A chemical engineer by training, Wang founded BYD in 1995 as a battery manufacturer. His vision led him into the automotive world, and today BYD is not only the largest producer of electric vehicles but also a global battery supplier. With a pragmatic style, Wang has positioned BYD as a cornerstone of the global energy transition.
Li Xiang and Li Auto: Betting on Range-Extended Hybrids in China
Li Xiang founded Li Auto in 2015, focusing on range-extended hybrids—an ideal solution for China, where charging infrastructure remains uneven. His vision is to offer a smoother transition toward full electrification. Under his leadership, Li Auto has achieved exponential growth in both sales and valuation.
He Xiaopeng: The XPeng CEO Driving Autonomous EVs
A former Alibaba executive, He Xiaopeng combines his tech expertise with mobility. His strategy for XPeng focuses on autonomous driving and software as key differentiators. With a less media-oriented and more technical profile, he has positioned XPeng as an innovative brand, particularly in advanced driver-assistance systems.
William Li and NIO: Battery Swapping and User Experience
William Li founded NIO in 2014. His vision goes beyond building cars: he seeks to create a community around the brand. NIO has pioneered battery-swapping technology as an alternative to traditional charging. Li represents a leadership style that is user-centric, emphasizing customer experience over pure product performance.
Leadership in Numbers
The leadership impact is also reflected in the numbers. According to H1 2025 EV production and sales data, the companies led by these CEOs set the pace for the sector: Tesla delivered 720,803 EVs, Xiaomi 157,171, BYD about 1.02 million pure BEVs (2.49 million including plug-in hybrids), Li Auto 203,938 (primarily range-extended EVs powered by electric motors supported by a gasoline generator), XPeng 197,189, and NIO 114,150.
These figures consolidate China and the United States as the two major hubs of electric mobility and confirm that the decisions of these leaders are driving the global transformation of the automotive industry.
The Vision
These six CEOs may have very different leadership styles, but they share one conviction: the electric car is more than a vehicle—it is the axis of today’s technological and energy transformation. In a sector moving at full speed, their decisions will shape the future of mobility. From Silicon Valley to Shenzhen, they are the Electric CEOs rewriting the rules of the game.