Power List 100 2023 – Chinese car makers

Chinese car makers are no longer seen as lesser than their Western counterparts. They are a real threat to legacy brands

Chinese car makers are well and truly on the offensive in Europe, their subsidised production costs allowing them to undercut Western rivals and snatch their buyers. 

But it is unfair to think these cars, such as the MG 4 and BYD Atto 3, are just selling because of their lower price tags – they’re also showing that the Chinese are no longer lesser than their Western counterparts.

Instead, they are now being recognised globally for their growing understanding of how to make a car equal to some of the world’s best, especially with battery technologies. They are a real threat to the legacy brands.

We recognise those who’ve been at the heart of this in the Power List 100, sponsored by Keyloop.

*Power List 100 2023 - Chinese car makers*

-*Zhu Huarong, chairman, Changan Automobile*-

Rival Geely might be better known in the West but state-owned Changan is the bigger global seller. Zhu Huarong has plenty more ambitions, after growing net profit by 120% year on year in 2022. His plan aims to sell 1.2m units overseas (an expected 30% of overall volume) and employ 10,000 people abroad by 2030.

-*Wang Xiaoqiu, president, SAIC Motor*-

Wang Xiaoqiu became president of SAIC a decade ago and, in that time, there has been a lot of change. Now, the state-owned Chinese firm is the biggest in its home country, with annual sales of more than five million. It is also behind the resurgence of iconic once-British car maker MG, which it took over in 2007.

-*Qinghong Zeng, chairman, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co*-

Overseeing the Trumpchi, Aion and Hycan brands, GAC’s chairman has set an ambitious sales target of five million units by 2035 – double 2022’s total – half of which are to be ‘new-energy’ vehicles. Production capacity for EVs increased to 400,000 a year last December. His next focus will be on its joint venture with Jeep.

-*Xu Liuping, chairman, FAW*-

Best known for limousines that were once reserved for high-ranking government officials, FAW has blossomed into the second-largest state- owned car maker, following joint ventures with GM, Toyota and VW. Headed by Xu Liuping, the brand recorded 3.2m sales in 2022, only 500,000 down on pre-Covid times. The chairman’s seven-year plan aims to double sales and profits by 2025.

-*‘Jack’ Wei Jianjun, chairman, Great Wall Motor*-

That Wei Jianjun took over a debt-plagued Great Wall Motors at the age of just 26 shows the potential the privately owned firm saw in him. And he’s paid that back. After majoring on pick-ups and SUVs, a new wave of GWM models, such as the Ora Funky Cat, have targeted B and C segments. He has also pushed the firm to be at the forefront of Chinese expansion overseas with CKD operations.

-*Zhu Yanfeng, chairman, Dongfeng*-

Zhu Yanfeng has already completed much in his career, which spans being president of FAW and deputy chief of political party Jilin. Now at state-owned Dongfeng, the 62-year-old wields considerable influence thanks to joint ventures with Honda, Nissan and Stellantis. The firm is targeting 3.0m sales this year, a 22% annual rise.

-*Yin Tongyue, chairman, Chery Automobile*-

Given Chery is JLR’s assembly plant partner in China, chairman Yin Tongyue is an important figure in the UK. The state-owned firm produced 1.2m cars last year, making it the  ninth-largest car maker in China. But it’s out of its home country where it seems to shine. Since 2002, it has been the top exporter of passenger vehicles.

*How are the 100 names in Autocar's Power List chosen?*

The Power List ranks the world's 100 most influential automotive heads, based on the following criteria: global reach and influence, spending power, share of voice, technological influence, future growth potential and market capitalisation. 

The top 10 are ranked and the remaining 90 names on the list are grouped into categories, including executives from more traditional car makers to the rising powerhouses from China and the latest technology and mobility companies. 

These names were chosen by the editors of Autocar Business, the B2B product from the publisher of Autocar, designed to bring industry readers even closer to the inner workings and key players of the global automotive industry.

*The full list is now available to download here.*