Gasgoo Munich-Magna International, the global auto parts giant, recently announced two key executive moves. On May 12, industry outlet Gasgoo learned that former China President Wu Zhen has relocated to Europe for personal reasons. Effective May 11, she assumed the role of Vice President at Magna International, focusing on supporting Chinese automakers' global expansion and overseas business growth. On the same day, Li Yaxu, a veteran of nearly 20 years at the company, officially took the baton as Magna China President, while continuing to serve as Vice President of the Body and Chassis division.
Wu Zhen's new role carries significant strategic weight. As Chinese brands shift from simply exporting vehicles to a full value-chain global presence, her permanent base in Europe and seat on the global management team will allow for more agile mobilization of manufacturing and engineering resources worldwide. This positions her to provide system-level support—ranging from localized supply chains to regulatory compliance—for Chinese brands expanding abroad.
Image source: Magna
Li Yaxu, the incoming president, is a versatile leader who rose through the ranks on the front lines. A Jilin University graduate, he joined Magna in 2005 and has since held critical roles, including Engineering and Operations Director for Body and Chassis in China and General Manager of the Changchun plant. After becoming Vice President of the division's China operations in January 2020, he led strategy execution, building deep expertise in lean operations, customer integration, and team management. By keeping his Vice President title for Body and Chassis while taking the top China post, Li ensures that core technology aligns closely with overall strategy—sharpening decision-making in critical areas like closures, body-in-white, and chassis modules.
Magna reiterated that China remains a cornerstone of its global strategy. As a top-tier supplier with full vehicle contract manufacturing capabilities, Magna aims to integrate resources across body, chassis, powertrain, electronics, and complete vehicle engineering to deepen long-term collaboration with automakers. By fusing global systems with local innovation, the company seeks to propel the Chinese automotive industry toward high-quality international expansion.
