Former Airbus’ executive joins Baidu, Geely’s joint venture

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Luo Gang, CEO of Airbus' innovation center in China, has joined JIDU Auto, the electric vehicle (EV) joint venture between Baidu and Geely, according to a local media outlet.

The information was confirmed by Baidu. “Luo Gang previously engaged in entrepreneurship in new energy area. He joined JIDU Auto shortly after the company's foundation,” Baidu said.

Luo Gang; photo credit: Airbus

With a degree in electrical engineering from Tianjin University and an MBA from the London Business School, Luo Gang spent nearly three years establishing Uber China's business before it was acquired by Didi Chuxing in 2016, according to an introduction from Airbus.

In July 2017, the European multinational airliner manufacturer appointed Luo Gang as CEO of its new innovation center in China. In this capacity, his first mission was to develop the innovation center to be fully operational when it officially opened in Shenzhen.

Baidu announced in early Jan. its plan to establish a company for the production of intelligent EVs and the strategic partnership it formed with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. The tech giant said it would provide intelligent driving capabilities to power passenger vehicles for the new venture, and Geely would contribute its expertise in automobile design and manufacturing.

The joint venture, namely JIDU Auto, was formally registered on March 2. Involving a registered capital of 2 billion yuan ($307 million), the company is 55% held by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baidu and 45% by Shanghai Maple Automobile Co., Ltd., where Zhejiang Geely Holding Group serves as the majority shareholder. Xia Yiping, Mobike's co-founder and former chief technology officer, assumes the role of the chief executive officer.