TuSimple co-founder Xiaodi Hou has refuted allegations from senior management that he was making an attempt to poach workers for his new firm. In a LinkedIn submit, Hou mentioned that he resigned from TuSimple’s board final week on account of disagreements about CEO Cheng Lu’s compensation package deal, in addition to the corporate’s shift from Level 4 autonomy to Level 2 autonomy.
“I believe that the so-called investigation was retaliation instigated by TuSimple’s Chairman and CEO in response to my disagreements over several decisions,” wrote Hou in a LinkedIn submit.
Hou instructed TechCrunch that he has not begun one other enterprise, implying that it’s illogical to accuse him of poaching workers.
“I am regularly approached by current TuSimple employees who are disappointed with the current leadership and direction of the company,” wrote Hou in an announcement. “They come to me because we were a family, and we still are. Over the past few months, many employees reached out to me for my advice about their careers and the changes at the company. Many asked about my own plans. In every engagement, I stayed true to my responsibilities and duties as a director.”
Hou went on to accuse TuSimple’s administration of cornering, harassing and threatening sure workers in the middle of their investigations.
Hou mentioned his resignation was fueled partly by his rejection of present CEO Cheng Lu’s “lucrative” compensation package deal, which was awarded to the manager inside days of layoffs that wiped 25% of the corporate’s workforce.
According to a submitting, Lu will get an annual base wage of $450,000, a goal annual bonus of round $400,000 and a month-to-month housing allowance of $9,000. If Lu is fired with out trigger, or if there’s a change in command of the corporate (like if the corporate is bought), Lu will get $15 million.
Lu’s compensation and severance package deal was agreed upon on December 14, 2022, in line with filings. Lu, Hou and Chen had been the one remaining board members on the time after that they had beforehand fired everybody else. A supply conversant in the matter asserted that Lu and Chen modified the corporate’s governance in a means that may permit them to avoid Hou’s vote towards Lu’s compensation package deal. The firm’s new board members, Wendy Hayes and Michael Mosier, joined the board the subsequent day. We’ve reached out to TuSimple for touch upon the supply’s declare.
Hou additionally mentioned he was brazenly crucial of TuSimple’s “decision to shift the focus from level 4 autonomous driving to level 2 assisted driving.”
Level 4 autonomy means the system can drive itself with out requiring a human to takeover inside a set of particular circumstances — like a geofenced space. Level 2, or superior driver help programs (ADAS), can carry out some automated duties like lane help, cruise management or emergency braking, however they require the human driver to keep up many of the management over the car.
TuSimple has not publicly introduced any intention to shift from Level 4 to Level 2, however doing so would fully change the corporate’s enterprise mannequin.
In December, TuSimple’s take care of Navistar to collectively develop and produce purpose-built autonomous semi vehicles by 2024 fell by means of, leaving TuSimple and not using a clear route for commercialization.
Lu denied to TechCrunch that TuSimple is planning to shift its focus away from L4. He mentioned the corporate will quickly announce its progress on its autonomous area controller, which has the power to assist L2 options. Lu additionally pointed to TuSimple’s May 2022 analyst day presentation which outlined the corporate’s aim to provide L2+ ADAS in partnership with Nvidia. He reiterated that TuSimple continues to be very a lot specializing in L4.