8 things you may not know about Chinese billionaire and XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng
CNA sat down with the 46-year-old entrepreneur to find out what makes him tick, in the first of a series of interviews with prominent figures making waves around East Asia.
XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng in an interview with CNA correspondent Olivia Siong. (Photo: CNA/Deborah Wong)
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Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng is hoping to establish a presence in more markets overseas, and is betting on the global business to make up a larger portion of overall sales.
CNA sat down with XPeng CEO and Chinese billionaire He Xiaopeng to find out what makes him tick, in the first of a series of interviews with prominent figures making waves around East Asia.
The 46-year-old entrepreneur co-founded the Guangzhou-based automaker in 2014. He controls about a fifth of the eponymous company.
Here are eight things to know about him:
1. Why name the company after yourself?
The co-founders couldn't register a good brand name and asked if (my name) Xiaopeng could be one of the registration options for the brand. Then they registered it.
We originally had names of many fruits or animals, because we had the idea in 2013 and when we started investing in 2014, Chinese internet companies basically used animals and fruits.
So we, at that time, didn’t want to use the lofty names you used to have, but use names that were more relatable to customers. But in fact, even those names were already taken. The company was very small at the time, and could not afford a brand name that someone else had already registered.
If in 10, 20 or 30 years, a Chinese (car) brand uses its own Chinese name to go global, and people like it, I think it would be very cool.
2. You are an avid table tennis player. Are there any similarities between the sport and being an entrepreneur?
I think it has two related points.
The first one is that all entrepreneurs must have a good physique. I have played table tennis since I was a child, so my physique is still good. I like playing football even more.
The second thing is, when playing table tennis, my strength lies in my agility and I am able to make others run around the whole court, while I don’t run as much. So it may be somewhat similar to my corporate style.
3. What cars do you drive at the moment?
Now, I mainly drive XPeng cars and occasionally drive other cars.
Because we recently released the X9 (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) model, also due to limited production capacity, I only got the car (in March), so I am driving the X9 of late.
4. Looking back, what would you tell your 18-year-old self?
The age of 18 was when I set the first goal I wanted to achieve in my life.
I saw a story about a 40-year-old woman’s achievements. She used to be a senior executive of a multinational company.
Later, she started her own business and it was a very small company. But she enjoyed her life very much. She was also very beautiful.
She was 40 years old, but from my 18-year-old point of view, I thought she was only in her 20s and I thought her life was the life we yearn for.
I might tell (my 18-year-old self) how to grasp the pace of entrepreneurship in the next 20 years, how to earn the first pot of gold, and where to find a wife - he should find her earlier.
5. Tell us about your close friendship with Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi’s co-founder and chairman Lei Jun.
Lei Jun has always been a big brother. I have known him since the 2000s. He invested in my first company as well as my second company.
Our companies have always been in a relationship of cooperation and competition. He gave me a lot of advice on strategy, organisation, and management.
I feel like I have learnt from him and he has also, through this group of brothers, been inspired to keep going.
6. XPeng is nicknamed China’s Tesla. Is there anything you would like to say to Tesla founder Elon Musk?
I think they are doing a great job. I salute and learn from them.
7. At this stage in your life, what does money mean to you?
It means being able to explore more things.
8. Do you think you will be able to accept working for someone else again?
You have to know that I have sold my company more than once, and I have also bought many companies. For me, even when I work for other people, I feel that I am fighting for myself.
I am a very principled person. When I run my own company, I am responsible for shareholders and employees, and when I work for other companies, I am also answerable to my bosses.
For example, the company I founded, UCWeb, was bought by Jack Ma's Alibaba. When we joined (Alibaba), we did our best so that people would see our value.
When you have value, you will be confident to do things better. I think this is a cycle.
