Yijing Automobile, a new brand backed by Dongfeng and Huawei, is accelerating deliveries of its X9 family SUV after customers flooded social media with complaints about waiting times. In a post on his personal Weibo account, brand general manager Zeng Qinglin acknowledged the pressure, saying the team is working to speed up the entire delivery chain but will not sacrifice quality to do so. “We would rather make customers wait a few more days and pay more overdue points than hand over a car that is not ready,” he wrote.
The X9, positioned as a second-generation family flagship and the first model developed under a full-stack co-creation model between Dongfeng and Huawei, hit the market on September 24. According to Gasgoo, a Chinese automotive news outlet, the model received more than 9,157 firm orders within 24 hours of launch, following over 20,000 pre-orders in the first 24 hours of presale. The strong demand has made “when will I get my car” the most frequently asked question in owner communities.
Zeng said his private messages, comment sections, and screenshots forwarded from dealerships are almost entirely delivery inquiries. He apologized for the long wait and expressed gratitude for the trust shown by customers. He also provided an update on progress: vehicles with optional features have begun production and will soon be shipped. The longer lead time for these variants is due to parts sourcing and strict quality validation, he explained. “New optional configurations must go through the full production and quality verification process before mass production,” he said. That verification is now complete, and parts are in place.
Quality before speed
Yijing’s chairman, Wang Junjun, and Zeng are holding daily meetings with production teams to review shipping status and resolve issues on the same day, according to the post. Factory, logistics, and delivery teams are working around the clock, and daily shipment volumes will gradually increase.
Zeng stressed that quality gates will not be skipped. The X9 was developed under a strict quality control system, with Huawei contributing 23 vehicle validation standards and methods, several of which rank among the industry’s best, he said. The Yijing plant in Chengdu follows Huawei’s quality standards, with every vehicle undergoing multiple rounds of inspection before leaving the line.
The company’s approach—co-defining, co-developing, and co-working with Huawei, coupled with transparent communication about deliveries—reflects a long-term strategy to build trust with customers, according to Gasgoo. While rivals compete on delivery speed, Yijing is betting that honesty and a focus on quality will win loyalty in the premium segment.
