After several months of vacancy, the position of General Manager at Dongfeng Motor Group has finally been confirmed. On October 11, Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd. held an expanded leadership meeting. Under the leadership of the Central Organization Department, a responsible official from the department announced the decision by the Party Central Committee regarding the appointment of the General Manager of Dongfeng Motor Group: Comrade Feng Changjun has been appointed as the Director, General Manager, and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd., and his previous role as Chief Accountant of Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd. has been revoked. The related personnel changes will be handled in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.
On March 27, 2024, Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd. announced that Zhou Zhiping would serve as the Director, General Manager, and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, while also removing him from his position as Deputy General Manager and Party Committee Standing Member at China FAW Group Corporation. However, less than a year into his tenure, he was reassigned. On February 17 of this year, Zhou Zhiping’s name appeared on the official website of China North Industries Group Corporation, where he was appointed as Director, General Manager, and Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group. As a result, the position of General Manager at Dongfeng Motor Group had remained vacant.
Public information shows that Feng Changjun was born in May 1978, is a member of the Communist Party of China, and graduated with a degree in Accounting from the Central University of Finance and Economics. He holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from Renmin University of China and is a senior accountant. Looking at his previous work experience, Feng has held positions at China North Industries Group Corporation, Jinan Qingqi Motorcycle Co., Ltd., Chongqing Automotive Finance Co., Ltd., and Changan Automotive Finance Co., Ltd. He has served as Deputy Director of the Budget Department and Deputy Director of the Financial Department at China North Industries Group, as well as Vice General Manager and Deputy General Manager at various companies. In June 2020, Feng Changjun was appointed as a Standing Committee Member and Chief Accountant at Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd.
With Feng Changjun now taking on the roles of Director, General Manager, and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Dongfeng Motor Group’s leadership team consists of: Chairman and Party Secretary Yang Qing; Director and Deputy Party Secretary Liu Yanhong; Director, General Manager, and Deputy Party Secretary Feng Changjun; Vice General Manager and Party Committee Standing Member You Zheng; Head of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Group of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection stationed at Dongfeng, and Party Committee Standing Member Huang Chuan; Vice General Manager and Party Committee Standing Member Huang Yong; and Vice General Manager and Party Committee Standing Member Zhou Feng, totaling seven members. Zhou Feng was appointed Vice General Manager and Party Committee Standing Member on July 22 this year.
According to the latest official data, in the first nine months of this year, Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd. sold 1.3168 million vehicles, a 3.6% year-on-year decline. Among them, the sales of new energy vehicles reached 361,900 units, a 35.6% increase compared to the same period last year. In terms of specific brands, Dongfeng Nissan (including Infiniti and Venucia) sold 418,600 units, a 9.4% year-on-year decline; Dongfeng Honda sold 228,100 units, down 25.8%; and Shenlong Motors sold 38,400 units, a 27.9% decrease. Among domestic brands, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motors sold 84,600 units, a 2.6% decline; Yipai Technology sold 191,500 units, a 32.4% increase; Lantu Motors sold 95,400 units, an 86.1% increase; and Mengshi Technology sold 3,800 units, a 139.5% increase.
The new energy vehicle market is currently in a rapid development stage, with intense competition. Historically leading joint venture automakers are facing a decline in sales, and Dongfeng Motor Group is also experiencing a drop in sales from its joint venture brands. However, there is still significant room for Dongfeng Motor Group to improve and develop in its domestic brands and new energy vehicle sectors, which could potentially be the new growth point for the company’s future sales. In the context of domestic brands occupying a dominant market position, “How to accelerate the development of domestic brands and new energy vehicles, achieve a sales rebound, and improve market positioning” is an urgent issue that Dongfeng Motor Group needs to address. Whether Feng Changjun, as the new General Manager, can lead Dongfeng Motor Group to achieve sales growth remains to be seen.
