Yang Qing at the Helm of Dongfeng for Two and a Half Years: Rectifying Yipai, Reforming Joint Ventures, Eradicating Malpractices, First Month Sees a Strong Start

Dongfeng Motor Group's latest production and sales report shows that in January 2026, the group sold 138,761 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 18.8%. Although individual business units are still in decline, the overall trend is positive, marking a strong start to the year. By now, Yang Qing has been at the helm of Dongfeng Motor Group for nearly two and a half years. With the architectural adjustments nearing completion and personnel changes settled, this large state-owned automobile enterprise is facing greater expectations in the new year.

An 18.8% increase in the first month is a significant growth rate.

Looking back, in February 2021, Yang Qing was promoted to General Manager of Dongfeng Motor. He presided over the overall situation in March 2023 and officially became Chairman of Dongfeng Motor in October 2023. Sales reports show that in 2023, Dongfeng Motor Corporation's annual sales were 2,088,200 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 15.27%; in 2024, annual sales were 1,895,900 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 9.2%.

In 2025, annual sales reached 1.8962 million vehicles. Although there was no significant growth, the further decline was contained, preparing for a breakthrough in the following year. In the first month of 2026, Dongfeng Motor Group finally welcomed a successful start.

Specifically, among the numerous business units, Voyah Technology achieved a surge of 145.3% with 21,269 units sold in January; Lantu Motors saw a year-on-year increase of 31.3% with 10,515 units; Mengshi Technology experienced a remarkable growth of 782% with 882 units; and Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor sold 10,223 units, representing a year-on-year increase of 58.1%.

In terms of joint ventures, Dongfeng Nissan sold 47,355 vehicles, halting the downward trend; Shenlong Motor's slogan wasn't just empty talk, with January sales of 4,523 vehicles, achieving a 16.3% increase; while Dongfeng Honda sold 12,567 vehicles, a 37.1% decrease, which is still too high, and this business unit urgently needs rectification.

Despite minor oversights, the overall performance was outstanding, with domestic brands in particular ushering in new phases. Yang Qing's two and a half years at the helm of Dongfeng have yielded significant results.

In recent years, under Yang Qing's leadership, the passenger vehicle business, which has attracted the most external attention, has undergone significant rectification and transformation.

In June 2025, Wang Junjun, born in 1984, was promoted to General Manager of eπ Technology. As a business unit integrating the Fengshen, eπ, and Nammi brands, the success or failure of eπ Technology is directly related to the future of Dongfeng Motor Corporation's independent brand business.

Under the leadership of Wang Junjun, Eπ Technology achieved a sales volume of 275,800 units, representing a year-on-year increase of 28.3%. Although the three major brands—Aeolus, Eπ, and Nammi—still face certain challenges, such as issues with model composition and a lack of blockbuster products, Wang Junjun has led Eπ Technology toward steady improvement over the past six months of restructuring, living up to the trust and promotion of Chairman Yang Qing.

In April 2025, Dongfeng Nissan launched a major strategic model, the N7, under its joint venture brand. Fully catering to the needs of Chinese consumers and with an affordable price, the N7 became an instant hit, helping Dongfeng Nissan open up the new energy vehicle market. Due to his outstanding performance, Zhou Feng, Deputy General Manager of Dongfeng Nissan, was promoted to Deputy General Manager and Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee of Dongfeng Motor Corporation, becoming a member of the group's leadership team.

Although Dongfeng Honda's S7, also a strategic flagship model launched in 2025, may not have helped Dongfeng Honda successfully break through due to mispricing or other reasons, overall, both domestic and joint venture brands have seen positive changes. Yang Qing has actively rectified and reformed the group, which no longer issues empty slogans or remains stagnant. Various business segments are gradually showing improvement.

As a central state-owned enterprise, scale and grandeur are paramount, and "vitality" is always crucial. To ensure this vitality, personnel matters must come first. For instance, after the Dongfeng Honda S7 failed to achieve good market feedback, a veteran was promptly appointed to replace the old one, no longer adhering to fixed terms. Problems need to be rectified immediately.

On the road to anti-corruption, Dongfeng Motor Group, under the leadership of Yang Qing, has never been soft-handed. The "Clean Dongfeng" official account occasionally discloses announcements of personnel handling. In October 2025, the position of General Manager, which had been vacant for 8 months, was finally filled. Feng Changjun, the Chief Accountant, was appointed as General Manager, demonstrating Dongfeng Motor Group's determination to "eliminate malpractices" in the two important areas of "people" and "money."

The road is long and arduous. It is often said that a giant elephant is slow to turn, and this indeed remains an unbreakable truth. Yet, time can heal all things, and powerful transformation can reshape the old landscape.

If 2025 is a year of major rectification and profound transformation, then in 2026, where will Yang Qing lead Dongfeng Motor Group, and what kind of transcendence will be achieved?