A senior executive from Chinese automaker Chery sparked controversy on social media after publicly criticizing a new model launched by its rival, Geely. According to reports, Yao Fei (also known as Yao Yuanfang), Vice President of Chery’s Marketing Company, made disparaging remarks about the Geely Galaxy Starshine 8 on social media.
Chery executive sparks online backlash for criticizing rival Geely’s car as “terrible”. Pictured is the Geely Galaxy Starshine 8.
The incident took place in the “A9 Founder’s Edition Owners Group” on the Douyin platform (the Chinese version of TikTok), where Mr. Yao called the Galaxy Starshine 8 a “terrible car” with “cramped rear seats” and “poor sound quality.” This statement immediately drew sharp criticism from netizens and Galaxy Starshine 8 owners. Following the backlash, Mr. Yao disbanded the aforementioned Douyin group and switched his account to private.
According to observers, Chery is expected to launch the Fulwin A9 in May or June, positioning it as a direct competitor to the Geely Galaxy Starshine 8. The Fulwin A9 is an upcoming energy-efficient vehicle with an estimated price of 100,000 Chinese yuan (approximately 350 million VND).
Chery executive criticizes Geely Galaxy Starshine 8 ahead of the launch of their own Fulwin A9 model.
Officially unveiled on May 9, 2025, the Starshine 8 is Geely Galaxy’s first hybrid plug-in model positioned from mid-range to high-end. The car offers seven versions, with promotional prices ranging from 115,800 to 155,800 Chinese yuan (approximately 405 to 545 million VND).
At the launch press conference, Feng Junyi, CEO of Geely’s Automotive Business, announced that as of April 30, 2025, the cumulative sales of the Galaxy brand had exceeded 930,000 units and was expected to reach the 1 million mark in May. With this achievement, Galaxy will become the fastest new energy brand to reach this milestone.
In the first four months of 2025, Galaxy sold more than 356,000 vehicles, laying a solid foundation to achieve its annual target of 1 million units.
On March 3, 2025, Geely announced the upgrade of the Galaxy model to an independent brand, covering the entire new energy vehicle segment, including sedans, SUVs, and MPVs. Simultaneously, the company integrated LEVC into the Galaxy brand, positioning it as a premium MPV offering.
Public information about Yao Fei is scarce, but according to some sources, he previously worked at Great Wall Motor (GWM) as the Marketing Communications Director for the Ora brand before joining Chery.
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