(Yicai Global) June 28 -- Three senior executives from Alibaba, Ford and Qualcomm have jumped ship and officially came aboard new energy vehicle maker Xiaopeng Motors today.

The Guangzhou-based startup also known as Xpeng Motors announced these defections on its official account on Tencent Holding's WeChat social media app.

Wang Tong, former vice president of Alibaba Group Holding's Culture and Entertainment Business Group, Lv Xueqing, former chief financial officer of Ford China, and Benny Katibian, former Qualcomm VP of engineering have joined the Tesla-inspired NEV maker's team, per the statement.

Wang, who once worked in China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Asian Affairs, Lenovo Holdings and Baidu, will serve as Xiaopeng's VP in charge of public relations.

LV, who worked at Jiangling Motors and Ford Motor for over 30 years, will serve as the company's new VP of finance.

Benny Katibian, who previously led the design scheme for Qualcomm's chip for advanced driver assistance systems, will serve as chief executive of the NEV producer's North American unit.

The three join a steady stream of senior executives from other tech firms who have also decamped to the e-carmaker in the first half.

Founded in 2014, Xiaopeng focuses on building internet-enabled e-cars for young consumers. Serial entrepreneur He Xiaopeng its co-founder -- along with Henry Xia -- and chairman, also formed mobile browser developer UC Mobile, which Chinese tech titan Alibaba Group Holding took over in 2014.

Xiaopeng is said to be planning a funding round that would raise CNY17 billion (USD2.7 billion in funds by the end of this year, tech news portal Elektrek reported in April.

Editor: Ben Armour