On December 24, Zhao Yongpo, the newly appointed CEO of Wey, addressed concerns about the pressure of transitioning from Haval to Wey in a Weibo post. He stated that it wasn’t a matter of pressure—working at Haval had its rewards, while Wey presented its own challenges. For him, joining Wey felt like entering a comfort zone.
He explained, “Why? Because Wey brings together Great Wall Motor Company's (GWMOTOR) best and most cutting-edge technologies. As someone with a technical background, it feels like returning to my roots. My mission is clear: translate these advanced technologies into tangible, smart, and reliable product experiences for users.”
On December 21, Zhao, previously the general manager of Haval, officially announced his appointment as Wey’s CEO and previewed the launch of the upgraded Wey Lanshan Smart Edition on December 22 at 19:00.
Notably, Wey has seen frequent leadership changes in its less-than-a-decade existence, with the shortest tenure lasting just four months and the longest spanning one year and six months.
On December 22, Great Wall Motor Chairman Wei Jianjun publicly addressed the frequent CEO turnover at Wey during a media exchange—coinciding with Zhao’s first public appearance as Wey’s new CEO. Wei emphasized that every Chinese automaker aspires to premium branding. He noted, “It’s not that we dismissed them—they felt the immense pressure themselves.” Building a successful brand demands a well-rounded CEO, but China’s auto industry historically prioritized sales over brand management, which remains a challenge today.
