On April 17, during the pre-sale launch event for Great Wall Motor’s WEY V9X, Chairman Wei Jianjun delivered a stern rebuke to WEY CEO Zhao Yongpo and Great Wall Motor’s Chief Growth Officer (CGO) Li Ruifeng. He voiced his “profound dissatisfaction” with the marketing and communication strategies employed for the WEY V9X. Wei Jianjun felt that the team had fallen short in effectively highlighting the vehicle’s premium status, comparable to that of BBA (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi) brands. He also pointed out that the brand messaging for WEY lacked cohesion, thereby impeding its ability to draw in potential customers.

Later that evening, Zhao Yongpo issued a statement acknowledging the criticism and committing to enhance both communication efforts and customer services. The WEY V9X, which is marketed as an “AI-powered luxury six-seater flagship,” is now available for pre-sale, with prices starting at 371,800 yuan.