Yin Yongdong Reveals Huawei Internal Conflict: “Many Think I’m Crazy and Ambitious”

Speaking at the 2025 Future Automotive Pioneers Conference today, Richard Yu, Executive Director and CEO of Huawei’s Terminal BG, offered a rare glimpse into the internal struggles that have shaped the company’s automotive ambitions.

Yu acknowledged the significant challenges and setbacks faced by HarmonyOS-powered Smart Car (HarmonyOS-powered Smart Car) – a project Huawei internally christened as the “Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance” (HIMA). He admitted that the development journey has been fraught with difficulties, noting, “Over the past five years, we’ve faced a barrage of noise, internal and external misunderstandings. It’s been incredibly tough.”

Delving into the external pressures, Yu highlighted the detrimental impact of what he described as a lack of support from certain policies and standards. This, he implied, was a significant hurdle to progress. He explained that this resistance even prompted the evolution of HarmonyOS-powered Smart Car from a singular focus, symbolized by a single “sphere,” to its current multi-faceted approach, encompassing five different “spheres” to denote its expanded scope.

Internally, Yu revealed a persistent lack of comprehension, even within Huawei. He remarked, “You might witness various forms of opposition.”

Despite the turbulence, Yu remained resolute. “But I believe that the future will be brighter, and I believe those who lack understanding today will eventually come to see the light,” he asserted.

Yu then drew a parallel to his earlier career.

“When I was overseeing Huawei’s terminal business, and we decided to abandon custom-branded products and pursue our own Huawei brand, especially high-end products, many people thought I was, well, crazy—ambitious to a fault, overreaching for the stars. How could we possibly build a high-end brand?” Yu shared, “But we persevered, and we made it happen.”

He continued, “Before we succeeded, the criticisms and resistance were immense. Today, with HarmonyOS-powered Smart Car, our efforts are still not fully understood by many. They don’t yet grasp the implications. But in the years to come, the public will see that we have set a blueprint, and that we have provided a valuable contribution to the Chinese automotive market.”