# Zhu Jiangming

From Near-Death to Market Leader: How Zhu Jiangming Turned Leapmotor into EV’s Surprise Champion — and Why the Hard Part Lies Ahead

Leapmotor, led by founder Zhu Jiangming, vaulted from near-bankruptcy to become the top-selling Chinese new-energy carmaker in 2025 by combining strict cost control, aggressive price-for-feature models and deep in-house engineering. Strategic investments from Stellantis and FAW, plus a successful export push, underpinned growth, but challenges remain: brand elevation, sustainable profitability amid incentive rollbacks, and governance weaknesses exposed by a recent legal snag.