Gasgoo Munich- On April 1, Gasgoo will bring top suppliers in smart cockpits, AI, and embodied intelligence to Dongfeng Motor for in-depth talks with its R&D and procurement teams. This event marks a key strategic initiative for Dongfeng Motor Group as it adapts to global industry shifts and accelerates its deep transition into intelligence and new energy.
As a central state-owned enterprise focused on manufacturing, sales, service, and R&D, Dongfeng traces its roots to the Second Automobile Manufacturing Works, founded in 1969. Over 56 years, the company has navigated phases of rugged startup, reform, and open cooperation, achieving a transformative leap in its development.
The company’s timeline tells the story: In 1975, its first military vehicle rolled off the line, and the cars it produced were officially named "Dongfeng." By 1978, mass production of the first civilian EQ140 medium truck began. The company was renamed Dongfeng Motor Corporation in 1992; by 1999, a sweeping restructuring established a parent-subsidiary management model. Headquarters moved from Shiyan to Wuhan in 2003, and the company was renamed Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd. in 2017.
Image Caption: Image Source: Dongfeng Motor Official Website
As it enters this new phase of transformation, Dongfeng is doubling down on new energy and pivoting toward becoming a tech-driven enterprise. It is steadily refining its new energy brand matrix: VOYAH was launched in 2020 to tap the high-end market; MHERERO followed in 2022 to pioneer luxury electric off-roading; Dongfeng eπ and Dongfeng Nano arrived in 2023, completing the lineup across all segments; and in 2025, the Yijing brand—co-developed with Huawei—was officially announced, further rounding out the portfolio.
Driven by this optimized brand strategy, Dongfeng’s sales are climbing steadily. Data from Gasgoo’s global automotive industry platform shows that in 2025, the group’s annual sales reached 525,528 units—a 33.99% year-on-year jump. The momentum continued into 2026, with January-February sales hitting 68,354 units, up 41.43% from a year earlier.
Image Caption: Image Source: Gasgoo Global Automotive Industry Big Data autodata.gasgoo.com
Underpinning this market growth is a deep commitment to technology. Dongfeng is advancing along hybrid, pure electric, and hydrogen pathways, powering its passenger vehicles with "Mach" engines, commercial vehicles with "Longqing," and fuel cells with "Qinzhou." Notably, the Mach hybrid engine boasts a thermal efficiency exceeding 48%. Meanwhile, Dongfeng pioneered the "embodied intelligence" vehicle concept with its "Tianyuan Intelligence" tech brand, building a "one core, two bases, dual elements" system. It has mastered core technologies in electrification, fuel cells, autonomous driving, and automotive-grade chips. By December 2025, the company held 28,300 valid patents.
Today, smart cockpits and onboard AI are driving the industry’s intelligent upgrade. Emerging fields like embodied intelligence and the low-altitude economy share deep technological roots with the automotive sector, accelerating cross-industry growth. Against this backdrop, Dongfeng Motor Group is pushing full-speed ahead with its intelligent and new energy transition, cultivating strategic emerging industries and integrating resources across the supply chain to drive indigenous innovation.
Building on this industry consensus, Gasgoo will set up a specialized technical showcase zone on April 1. The event aims to bridge the gap between Dongfeng’s R&D and procurement teams and supplier representatives, exploring new possibilities for "intelligent transformation" together.
