Moving China And The World.
The history of the automobile is scattered with brilliant entrepreneurs. Karl Benz’s horseless carriage, Henry Ford’s mass production techniques, and Soichiro Honda’s dream of getting post-war Japan mobile again – these are some of the enduring names in automotive history that live on through their cars.
On the other hand, Li Shufu’s name is not on any of his cars. But the company that he founded – Geely Automobile – may well be the name that transforms the automotive world to face its next era. Emissions-free vehicles, self-driving cars, and even flying cars are some of the mobility solutions explored by Geely.
But how did the son of a farming community find his way in the cutthroat world of automotive manufacturing? How did Geely rise to the challenge and outmaneuver many of its bigger domestic rivals? In this issue of SME, we explore the contemporary rags-to-riches story of China’s most visionary auto magnate.
ENTREPRENEUR FROM DAY ONE
Li Shufu was born in 1963, the third son out of four siblings in a poor rural family. Back then, owning a car was beyond the dreams of many Chinese people. Only high-ranking government officials had ‘Red Flag’ limousines, which passed by Li’s village frequently on the way to the nearby military airport. The young Li was enamoured by those machines, building models out of sand.
As his family was too poor to support his further education, Li did not go on to university. At the age of 19, Li was forced to be an entrepreneur, using a loan of 120 yuan from his father to start a photography business. At first, he was an itinerant photographer, using an inexpensive camera to take pictures of tourists at scenic spots.
Denne historien er fra March 2019-utgaven av SME Magazine Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 2019-utgaven av SME Magazine Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Cloud- Driven Recovery
With digital transformation being an important catalyst for Malaysia’s inclusive economic recovery, cloud computing plays an important role that enables . the country to acquire the advantages that technology offers.
Live Werkz: Venturing Beyond Southeast Asia
Being forward-looking in its approach has enabled LiveWerkz Pte Ltd to survive the Covid-19 pandemic, says vice president Tricia Ng. Despite being a Singaporean company, the company does not focus its efforts in the Southeast Asia region. Instead, Greater China and the Middle East become the foundation for its businesses. Ng tells SME the company’s strategies in facing a challenging future.
Singapore's Go Digital Well Received
More than 78,000 of Singapore’s SMEs have participated in the country’s Go Digital programme since its 2017 launch, with more about 40,000 becoming participants last year, including 30,000 that received Covid-19 incentives from the government.
Accountants And SMEs: Creating A Sustainable World
For SME finance professionals, ‘sustainability’ is about achieving longevity. However, there is a confusion over different definitions of sustainability. They recognise the growing importance of tackling sustainability issues but lack the understanding of how doing this can be integrated into day-to-day practices within the finance function.
Rebuilding Our Mental Well-Being In Sales
Sue Barrett is a writer, training provider and entrepreneur who founded Barrett in 1995 to positively transform the culture, capability and continuous learning of leaders, teams and businesses.
Omicron: A Test Of Resilence
Global manufacturers have been facing a supply chain crisis since the start of the year. Just as it appeared that the situation was beginning to stabilise, the Omicron Covid variant reared its ugly head.
Silver Lining In The Cloud
Although RAS Security Pte Ltd’s business was adversely affected by the pandemic, there’s a silver lining in the cloud. The occurrence has necessitated the company to innovate its business model to remain viable and led to the discovery of new areas of security service provision. Managing director Tejdeep Singh shares his journey.
Accelerating Artificial Intelligence
Singapore is introducing two new public artificial intelligence (AI) programmes as part of the strategy to use technology for social and economic good, involving a total allocation of S$680 million to accelerate AI research. The latest initiatives require a funding of S$180 million.
Three Tips For Hiring Top Talents
BIG EGOS LOSE TALENTS First up, when it comes to hiring, you must put aside your ego.
The Economy Is Recovering, But What About People?
All signs are pointing towards a speedy recovery. Contrary to what this writer initially predicted, the economy seems to be genuinely recovering.
