Media reports have revealed that Zhang Yuesai, the former general manager of GAC Passenger Cars who had already retired, has been taken away for investigation. Authorities reportedly discovered 100 million yuan in cash at his home.
Rumors suggest the figure may be as high as “1.6 small targets” (a slang term referring to 160 million yuan), with Zhang suspected of taking massive bribes in procurement, land deals, and sales. The case coincides with the largest organizational restructuring in GAC’s history and is seen as a signal of targeting the “corruption chain” in independent brands. Industry insiders say it may become one of the most shocking cases in China’s automotive anti-corruption campaign this year.
As a veteran with 35 years at GAC, Zhang was once nicknamed “Trumpchi Brother Sai” in the industry. Zhang Yuesai, male, Han Chinese, was born in October 1963 in Gaoling, Shaanxi Province. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering, is a senior engineer, and currently serves as vice chairman and general manager of GAC Passenger Cars, head of GAC Group’s Complete Vehicle Division, and director of the Independent Brand Business Management Committee.
After graduating from East China Institute of Technology (now Nanjing University of Science and Technology) in 1987, Zhang stayed on as a faculty member before joining Guangzhou Peugeot in 1988 as a technician. In 1998, he became head of corporate management at Guangzhou Honda, later serving as deputy plant director at Guangzhou Toyota in 2003. Starting in 2007, he successively held roles as deputy general manager of GAC Hino and GAC Passenger Cars, before becoming deputy director of GAC Group’s executive committee in 2016.
In July 2019, Zhang took charge of the Trumpchi brand as general manager of GAC Passenger Cars and later became a member of GAC Group’s executive committee and director of the Independent Brand Business Management Committee.
During his tenure, he pushed the Trumpchi brand toward premiumization and youth appeal, making notable contributions. In 2021, Trumpchi’s total sales exceeded 292,000 units, up 11.3% year-on-year.
In 2023, at age 60, Zhang reached retirement age but did not leave the automotive sector. Instead, he became president of Hycan, overseeing production and operations.
Media reports noted that in July 2024, Hycan initiated massive layoffs, followed four months later by the closure of its Shanghai branch, with allegations of unpaid compensation to laid-off employees.
From January to October 2024, Hycan sold fewer than 4,388 units, a year-on-year drop of 83.32%. Zhang retired in the same year.
In January 2025, GAC announced it would cover about 23.8 million yuan in wages and severance for Hycan employees in proportion to its shareholding, with GAC Aion taking over after-sales service. By then, Hycan had effectively ceased operations.
So far, officials have not disclosed the specific reasons for Zhang’s investigation.
Notably, the probe comes just as GAC undertakes the largest restructuring in its history. In early 2025, GAC consolidated the marketing of Trumpchi, Aion, and Hyper brands into three marketing divisions. Former Jiyue Auto executives Ao Zhiyi and Yin Shuang were appointed chief marketing officers of the Trumpchi and Hyper brands, respectively.
