electric vehicle (EV)

Ahead of Xiaomi’s EV entry, Lei Jun consulted Li Auto CEO Li Xiang for advice, revealed on a Chinese business show. Their two-hour phone call covered Tesla, BYD, and Huawei, with Li Xiang urging Lei Jun to be fully involved. Li Xiang also mentioned frequent gatherings with other EV leaders like Nio’s William Li and Xpeng’s He Xiaopeng, emphasizing “mutual candor” and open communication within China’s competitive EV market, including sharing beneficial, albeit sometimes uncomfortable, advice.

BYD’s Branding Head, Li Yunfei, emphasized the company’s focus on internal development and avoidance of direct attacks on competitors, drawing a parallel to the defensive martial art Wing Chun. He advocated for healthy competition in the vast Chinese and global auto markets, discouraging malicious disparagement. Li urged BYD enthusiasts (“Di-fans”) to positively promote Chinese brands and avoid unproductive online disputes. This philosophy, echoed by Chairman Wang Chuanfu, reflects BYD’s core corporate culture of fair play and constructive growth.

On China’s “520”表白日, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei’s daughter Yao Anna, 25, shifted focus from romance to manufacturing by touring Changan Auto’s Chongqing facility for its EV brand Avatr. Videos showed her conducting quality checks under Changan Chairman Zhu Huarong’s guidance, balancing brand ambassador duties with hands-on technical involvement. Analysts view her factory immersion as strategic outreach to younger consumers and investors, emphasizing Avatr’s tech integration (Huawei’s driving systems) and production excellence. The move coincides with Avatr’s 2025 Brand Day preview for its premium SUV Avatr 07, following Yao’s promotional role since its 2024 debut. Her industrial engagement contrasts Valentine-style fanfare, positioning the luxury EV as innovation-driven in China’s competitive market.