Li Auto PR Expert Yang Jibin Reportedly Set to Depart

[Personnel Change] Yang Jibin, Chief Expert of Public Relations Strategy at Li Auto, has been reported to be leaving the company, just about six months after joining.

Key Development: Departure Rumored Within Six Months of Joining; Role Was Not the Top PR Position

Yang Jibin joined Li Auto on December 8, 2025, as Chief Expert of Public Relations Strategy, reporting directly to PR Director Yu Wei, not CEO Li Xiang. Earlier external reports mistakenly labeled him as the "top PR executive," but in fact, Yu Wei remains the head of the PR function.

Strategic Context: High-Profile Hire Exits Quickly, Highlighting Organizational Fit Challenges

Yang Jibin previously played a key role in major PR campaigns at ByteDance, including the intense rivalry between Toutiao and Tencent ("Tou-Teng War"). He also has a background as an investigative journalist at traditional media outlets such as Southern Weekly and The Beijing News. His widely noted 2010 feature on Foxconn’s "eight consecutive suicides" drew significant public attention. However, his rumored departure from Li Auto after only six months may reflect underlying difficulties in integrating internet-era PR culture with that of traditional automotive companies.

As of June 8, 2026, neither Li Auto nor Yang Jibin has issued an official statement.