Eric Li
Eric Li is the Founder and Chairman of Geely Holding Group.
He established Geely Holding Group in 1986 and found success in various industries including refrigerators, decorative materials, motorcycles, etc. In 1997, Geely entered the automotive industry and has since been devoted to the pillar principles of technological innovation and cultivating talent, promoting the transformation of the industry, creating an inclusive and diversified global corporate culture, and fulfilling its corporate social responsibility. Under his excellent leadership and forward-looking vision, Geely grown rapidly and has ranked among Fortune 500 companies for ten consecutive years. Today, the group’s business covers the entire automotive industry chain, mobility services, digital technology, financial services, and other businesses. With over 120,000 employees around the world, Geely has become a global innovative mobility technology group with deep roots in China.
Upholding Geely’s philosophy of global operations coupled with high inclusiveness and coordinated development, Eric Li has led the Group to complete several strategic international acquisitions which has resulted in the revival of Volvo Cars and coordinated development between Geely Auto, Volvo Cars, PROTON, Lotus, and LEVC. Under his leadership, Geely became the largest shareholder in Volvo AB and Daimler, further enhancing the Group’s global presence. Geely is actively laying the foundation for fully integrated three-dimensional global mobility ecology and transforming from a manufacturing powerhouse to a mobility driven technology group. Founded with a commitment to sustainable development, Geely has become a pioneer in the exploration and application of green methanol as a solution to solving the world’s energy and carbon neutrality problems.
Eric Li has always been committed the nurturing of talent and promoting education. Under his leadership, Geely Holding Group founded Beijing Geely College now called Geely University, the largest private university in China in 1999. To date, a total of ten non-profit educational institutions have been established including Sanya College, Zhejiang Automotive Engineering Institute, etc. which have educated over 180,000 students already.
He has also established the “Li Shufu Charity Foundation” dedicated to charity and the promotion of social harmony and progress. In 2016, he launched the Geely “Timely Rain” targeted poverty alleviation project which has already helped 10 provinces and 20 localities develop and lift more than 30,000 households out of poverty.
Eric Li is a current member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. He was previously elected to serve as a representative at the 13th National People’s Congress as well as a member of the 10th, 11th and 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. He was also previously a Vice-Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce. In addition, Eric Li has been honored by the Central Committee and State Council as a “reform pioneer,” as well as being named the most influential business leader in China, China’s “Top 10 Private Entrepreneurs,” an outstanding figure of China’s automotive industry, and “Top 10 Philanthropists of China” among other recognitions.