Former Toyota China executive Zeng Lintang reportedly joins Leapmotor

Beijing (Gasgoo)- Zeng Lintang, former Vice Manager of Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., reportedly joined Leapmotor, the Chinese new energy vehicle startup, in May this year as the assistant to Chairman Zhu Jiangming.

Photo credit: Leapmotor

Confirming the appointment, a spokesperson from Leapmotor's PR department told Gasgoo, "Zeng has indeed been serving as the Assistant to Chairman and Advisor to the company, assisting in the company’s overall strategic development."

Zeng Lintang, hailing from Hong Kong, boasts extensive experience in the automotive industry, having held positions at various car companies. His career includes a fourteen-year tenure at Canada's Bennett-Dunlop Ford Sales Company, where he rose to the position of General Manager. He later joined Crown Motors Limited in 1994 as the General Manger of the Sales Department, followed by a role as a director at LEXUS, a division of Toyota Motor (China) Co., in 2003. In 2005, he assumed the role of Vice Manager at Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., overseeing the Market and Import Departments, and pioneering dealer training, services, as well as establishing standards and procedures for dealership entry.

During Zeng Lintang's tenure from 2005 to 2011, Lexus's annual sales in China surged from 5,000 to an impressive 50,000 units by 2010. He was also an early advocate of prioritizing "dealer satisfaction" in the automotive marketing sector, earning considerable favor among dealers during an era dominated by the 4S dealership authorization model.

Since departing from Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co. in 2011, Zeng Lintang has remained relatively low-key in the public eye. However, Leapmotor's invitation to him suggests the startup’s strategic move to bolster its position in the fiercely competitive realm of new energy vehicles.

Zeng Lintang's primary responsibilities will involve providing strategic planning and brand marketing advice to Leapmotor, as well as offering insights into product R&D. Additionally, he will play a crucial role in helping the Chinese startup expanding overseas markets, enhancing day-to-day operational efficiency, elevating service standards, and boosting the company's brand recognition.