Dongfeng Motors Undergoes Intensive Personnel Changes: R&D and Sales Structure Becomes Clear

On the path of new energy transformation, Dongfeng Motor Corporation has made a series of personnel adjustments, placing technology experts who understand new energy vehicles in key positions to accurately grasp industry trends and seize the initiative in strategic execution and product layout.

On July 28, the R&D Institute of Dongfeng Motor Corporation welcomed an important personnel change, with Chen Tao appointed as Deputy Director of the R&D Institute of Dongfeng Motor Corporation.

According to publicly available information, Chen Tao has served as Assistant to the Dean of Dongfeng Motor Research and Development Institute, Director and Party Secretary of the Software Engineering Research Center at Dongfeng Motor R&D Institute, and Director of the New Energy and Power Center at Dongfeng Technology Center. He was awarded the Shi Shaoxi Talent Award in 2024. Chen Tao has led the development of multiple internationally competitive technologies and products, including engines, hybrid, and pure electric systems. The Mach Power MHD hybrid system he led the development of was awarded the title of "China Heart" Top Ten Engines.

After Chen Tao took office, the Dongfeng Motor Corporation Research and Development Institute formed a more comprehensive and focused vice president management team for research and development in all core areas of new energy vehicles.

Not only Chen Tao, but also in a series of personnel changes at Dongfeng Motor Corporation, technically-oriented individuals closely associated with new energy vehicles have been appointed to key positions.

A week ago, Zhou Feng, Vice President of Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Deputy General Manager of Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company, was promoted to member of the Party Committee and Deputy General Manager of Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd.

During his tenure at Dongfeng Nissan, Zhou Feng led the restructuring and resource integration of the three major manufacturing bases in Zhengzhou, Dalian, and Xiangyang. This encompassed adjustments to the production architecture for both traditional fuel vehicles and new energy vehicle platforms, facilitating the implementation of Nissan's e-POWER technology platform.

Zhou Feng is even more of a "firefighter" for Dongfeng Nissan's transformation. At the end of 2023, during the critical period of Dongfeng Nissan's transformation, Zhou Feng was transferred back to serve as the top Chinese executive at Dongfeng Nissan, promoting the implementation of the "GLOCAL" strategy. He also established a "smart ecosystem circle of friends" that includes technology companies such as Huawei, Momenta, and Baidu. Under the Tiansheng architecture, the first new energy strategic model, Dongfeng Nissan N7, was launched and became a hit.

Dongfeng Yipai Technology Co., established at the end of June, is not only led by executives with technical backgrounds but also has many key positions filled by individuals with technical expertise.

Wang Junjun, former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Lantu Motors, has been appointed General Manager of Dongfeng Motor Corporation’s E-Pai Automotive Technology Company. According to publicly available information, Wang served for more than ten years at the Technology Center of Dongfeng Motor Corporation, where he led the development of the Dongfeng Mach Power C15TDR engine. After joining Lantu, he promoted research and innovation in intelligent electric architecture (ESSA+SOA) and intelligent driving systems.

In addition to Wang Junjun, Dongfeng Yipai Technology Company's Deputy General Manager Cheng Jun is also a technical expert, having previously served as the Deputy Director of Dongfeng Company's R&D Institute. At Dongfeng Yipai Technology Company, Cheng Jun will lead the R&D personnel transferred from Dongfeng R&D Institute to complete the R&D work for the three brands: Fengshen, Yipai, and Nano.

In the automotive industry, Dongfeng Motor Corporation's research and development capabilities rank in the top tier among Chinese brands, with an R&D investment intensity of about 8% for its own brands and over 5,000 patents in new energy intelligent connected vehicles. In the field of intelligence, Dongfeng Motor, leveraging its full technology chain independent innovation capabilities, has developed the "Tianyuan Intelligent" technology brand and established the "one core, two bases, and two applications" intelligent technology system. This system is built upon the Taiji large model core and the Tianyuan electronic and electrical architecture, as well as the Tianyuan OS, fostering the "dual applications" of Tianyuan Intelligent Driving and Tianyuan Intelligent Cabin.

With comprehensive technical reserves and technical experts in key positions, Dongfeng Motor will anchor itself in the deep waters of transformation. By adopting a more forward-looking perspective, more accurate market insights, and more efficient utilization of R&D resources, it will accelerate its transformation and upgrading process, turning its technological advantages into long-term competitiveness.