Can Hu Bo create another Volkswagen miracle as executive vice president of Jaguar Land Rover?

According to reliable sources, Hu Bo, the former chief marketing officer of Volkswagen Group (China), has resigned and has now officially joined Jaguar Land Rover as executive vice president of Jaguar Land Rover China and Chery Jaguar Land Rover Joint Marketing Sales and Service Organization (IMSS). Since 2005, Hu Bo has been wandering between Volkswagen China and Jaguar Land Rover, but with his rich experience in brand image building, market communication and sales management, he has been able to create brilliant achievements in the turbulent automotive industry no matter where he is.

In 2005, Hu Bo joined Volkswagen Group (China) as the Marketing Director of Volkswagen Brand. On August 3, 2007, one year before the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Volkswagen announced that it would become the chief sponsor of the official film of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, "Beijing Olympic Games", providing the filming team with work vehicles including the main models such as Magotan and Lingyu, and carrying the filming team to travel all over the country, not only making its own contribution to this official Olympic film, which was the first time in Olympic history that it was directed and filmed by a Chinese director, but also invisibly enhancing the brand image of Volkswagen. These are all Hu Bo's masterpieces.

In 2010, Volkswagen Import Automobile Sales Co., Ltd. sold 43,613 vehicles in the whole year, a year-on-year increase of 114%. The sales of Volkswagen's flagship sedan Phaeton accounted for 50% of the global sales. This is another record high in China after Phaeton's annual sales in China accounted for 30% in 2009, becoming the world's largest market for Phaeton. In 2010, nearly 3,500 Phaetons were sold to the Chinese market. In 2011, Phaeton's sales in China hit a new high, reaching more than 6,600 vehicles. At the same time, Volkswagen China has also opened 5 Phaeton customization centers in China. I believe that all this is inseparable from Hu Bo's efforts.

In 2011, Hu Bo joined Jaguar Land Rover, taking over from the British Dixon as Executive Vice President of Land Rover China, and reported directly to Mr. Gobel, President of Jaguar Land Rover China. During his tenure, Jaguar Land Rover's sales in China exceeded 42,000 vehicles for the first time, with a year-on-year growth of 61%, ahead of the average level of the luxury car market. Among them, Land Rover delivered a total of 36,087 vehicles in China, a year-on-year increase of 54%. In terms of dealer network, by the end of 2011, Jaguar Land Rover's contracted authorized dealers in China had increased to 113. Hu Bo also said that by the 2013 fiscal year, China will become Land Rover's largest market in the world.

Unfortunately, Hu Bo left Jaguar Land Rover before 2013. In 2012, Hu Bo returned to his old employer Volkswagen China and served as the general manager of Volkswagen brand imported cars of Volkswagen (China) Sales Co., Ltd. At that time, Volkswagen China was facing a severe situation in China, such as a slowdown in the imported car market and an increase in dealer inventory. At this time, Hu Bo could be said to have been appointed at a time of defeat and was ordered to lead the Volkswagen imported car team, investors and dealers to formulate and implement effective marketing and sales strategies. Thanks to Hu Bo's efforts, Volkswagen imported cars sold a total of 83,000 units, with a growth rate of 56%.

In 2013, Hu Bo was promoted to Chief Marketing Officer of Volkswagen Group (China) Greater China and ASEAN. Then in 2016, under the pressure of multiple negative events such as the "emissions gate" incident and the short-axle model of the Sagitar, Volkswagen's sales were not affected. Instead, it won the global sales championship in 2016, realizing its dream of surpassing Toyota and winning the championship one year ahead of schedule.

At the beginning of 2018, Hu Bo returned to Jaguar Land Rover and served as Executive Vice President of Jaguar Land Rover China and Chery Jaguar Land Rover Joint Marketing Sales and Service Organization (IMSS). In recent years, Jaguar Land Rover has developed rapidly in China. The localization of Jaguar Land Rover has greatly reduced production costs and lowered the price range. In 2016, the sales volume of domestically produced Jaguar Land Rover accounted for more than 50% of the global sales volume. In 2017, the launch of new products such as Range Rover Velar and Jaguar F-pace enriched the product matrix of Jaguar Land Rover and made it a leading force among second-tier luxury brands.

Looking at the domestic luxury car market, the three German giants BBA are firmly in the first-tier and it is difficult to shake them in a short period of time, but the competition between BBA is very fierce, and the second-tier luxury brands are also working non-stop to seize the Chinese market. At this time, Jaguar Land Rover not only has to catch up with the already strong Cadillac, but also has to face the pursuit of Lexus and Volvo. Fortunately, Hu Bo returned to Jaguar Land Rover. Judging from Hu Bo’s previous work experience at Volkswagen China and Jaguar Land Rover, whenever Hu Bo went to a car company, regardless of the market operation conditions, he could bring qualitative growth to the sales there. He can be said to be a lucky general. At this most critical moment for Jaguar Land Rover, I believe that Hu Bo’s arrival will definitely help Jaguar Land Rover seize opportunities, meet challenges, and strive for a favorable market position among second-tier luxury brands, replicating his glorious record at Volkswagen.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.