Huawei’s Ren Zhengfei, Changan Automobile’s Zhu Huarong discuss state of China EV sector

Huawei Technologies founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei, who has been the face of China’s resilience to US tech restrictions, has provided some guidance to the head of Changan Automobile, as the state-owned carmaker pushes its go-global strategy and eyes a potential merger with Hong Kong-listed Dongfeng Motor Group.

According to his post on Chinese microblogging site Weibo, Changan chairman Zhu Huarong said he visited Ren, 80, at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen last Friday to discuss the state of development and competition in China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Chongqing-based Changan, Huawei and EV battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited are partners in Avatr Technology, which was reportedly considering a US$1 billion initial public offering in Hong Kong.

While Zhu did not provide details of their discussion, he praised the “wisdom” shared and “passion” shown by Ren during the meeting. Zhu said he also met Huawei deputy chairman Eric Xu Zhijun and Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of the company’s consumer business group, in Shenzhen.

The meeting reflects how Chinese industry leaders look to Ren for possible direction amid US President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy, which has disrupted global trade. Tariffs imposed by the US government have made exports to the country “impossible” for Chinese EV manufacturers.

US-sanctioned Huawei, meanwhile, offered lessons on defying Washington’s tech restrictions, as the firm built up its semiconductor business and made a comeback in the 5G smartphone market.