NIO CEO William Li Tells WTO World Trade and Tech Day That AI Leadership Will Decide Automakers' Future

NIO founder, chairman and CEO William Li was invited to World Trade and Tech Day at World Trade Organization headquarters in Geneva, where he delivered a keynote speech on September 14, 2026. The event was held under the theme "AI and Trade: Turning Potential into Progress" and brought together representatives from international organizations, governments and industries to explore the opportunities and challenges for global trade in the AI era. Li addressed a question the source says faces policymakers worldwide: how to encourage innovation while making sure AI is safe, trustworthy and responsibly deployed. The automotive industry can offer a real-world perspective, the source notes, because it is one of the world's most globalized industries and one where safety is critical.

Li argued that the global development and deployment of smart driving requires global coordination, because road conditions, traffic rules, data requirements, safety standards and market-access rules can all vary between countries and regions. At the same time, AI systems need to perform safely and consistently across different environments, which the source says requires automakers to consider global regulatory compliance and local market adaptation from the early stages of product development, with targeted testing and validation for different environments. Li framed a fundamental question for automakers: how to bring new technologies to different markets safely, efficiently and in compliance with local requirements. He said this requires all stakeholders to work toward greater consistency in testing methods and mutual recognition of test results, which can significantly reduce the costs of deploying new technologies in overseas markets — the goal being common ground where possible, not making every market the same.

As the global trade environment becomes increasingly complex, differences in regional regulations are raising the barriers to large-scale deployment of frontier technologies, according to the source. Li argued that the right rules do not have to slow innovation down, and should instead build trust, reduce barriers, support innovation and allow technology, talent and trade to create greater value across borders. Under the WTO framework, NIO said it hopes to see more dialogue, more common ground and more workable rules. The company says that could ultimately create new opportunities for global trade and contribute to a sustainable and brighter future.