Driven by innovation: David Jin

China’s automotive industry is a powerhouse, leading global production with 30.16 million vehicles manufactured in 2023, its highest number ever. Its domestic market is being driven by a soaring middle class and urbanization, with consumers increasingly favoring SUVs and EVs, which now make up nearly 30 percent of new car sales.

As the world’s largest automotive manufacturer, Chinese-made vehicles reach markets worldwide. Thanks to government incentives toward EVs and green technology, combined with growing global demand, China’s automotive sector is set to continue its upward trajectory, making it an exciting time for manufacturers to innovate and expand.

One of these is Marelli, which has already made significant inroads into the Chinese market. Formed through the merger of Calsonic Kansei Corporation and Magneti Marelli in 2019, Marelli is one of the world’s largest independent automotive suppliers, best known for its innovation and manufacturing excellence.

While you won’t see a Marelli car on the road, you might find Marelli’s cutting-edge automotive lighting systems or advanced electronic solutions powering many popular car brands.

"China’s automotive industry has experienced rapid changes over recent years," David Jin, Chairman of Marelli China, tells The CEO Magazine. "There’s fierce competition but also a lot of opportunities, it’s a very exciting time."

Formerly the Chairman and President of Northeast Asia and Greater China at Harman International, Jin was attracted to Marelli China by his former boss from Harman International, Dinesh Paliwal, who had become Executive Chairman of Marelli.

"Dinesh is a proven leader and I’ve known him for over 25 years," Jin says. "He has a track record of delivering strong results, and we both share the same views about how companies should be run. We are focused on fundamentals; we don’t believe in shortcuts, and we value the importance of people."

In collaboration with

Shanghai Fazhiyuan

The car wiring specialists ensure high performance for every vehicle. The car wiring specialists ensure high performance for every vehicle.

Another attraction for Jin was Paliwal’s plan to shift decision-making power to Marelli China itself.

"Many multinational companies tend to make decisions in Europe or the United States, but the China market has developed so fast, meaning we need to have a local team that can make quick decisions," he says.

"So when they offered me the position, I accepted, knowing I’d have the decision-making power to grow Marelli’s business while also contributing to China’s automotive industry."

The road ahead

In China’s hyper-competitive market, Jin is confident about Marelli's value proposition, particularly for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

"Marelli has excellent products, especially its lighting and electronic products which are the preferred choices of some world-class OEMs due to their quality, reliability and competitiveness," Jin says.

However, going forward, Marelli China is going to invest heavily in technology, while keeping a careful eye on profitability.

"Many companies are selling their products at a loss these days, but I don’t think that’s sustainable. We need to have profitable growth so we can continue investing in technology. Eventually, some of the less competitive companies will either go under or be acquired. Only the strongest survive in this kind of market," he says.

"We also need to select the right customers. Unlike those companies that focus only on cost, at Marelli we focus on value creation through innovation, quality and reliability. We want to select high-quality customers with long-term visions and grow together."

A sustainable future

As Marelli continues to transform and grow, sustainability and resiliency remain at the heart of the company’s business strategy, Jin says.

"From headquarters to our China operation, we are very serious about sustainability. But I think the most important aspect of this is our people. We want our people to be aware of the importance of sustainability and drive it at every level," he adds.

As part of this, Marelli has set clear targets in three key areas. Regarding climate change, Marelli is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions across its supply chain by 2045.

Regarding the circular economy, its goal is to continually find ways to reduce waste and use more recycled materials, such as redesigning its products.

As for social impact, Marelli is enhancing workplace safety and ethical practices, aiming for ISO 45001 and SA8000 certifications, while also working toward equal female representation in leadership roles and ensuring its suppliers meet strict ESG standards.

Marelli has already achieved several of its sustainability goals ahead of schedule, and in the coming year, is committed to surpassing even more ambitious targets.

In recognition of this achievement, Marelli received a gold medal from EcoVadis in 2024, the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings with a global network of more than 130,000 rated companies. This acknowledgment positions Marelli within the top five percent of all companies assessed by EcoVadis across various industries.

Marelli is also a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its 10 principles covering human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.

"While we are looking at social responsibility and carbon emission reductions, it’s also important to remember that profitability is also sustainability," Jin explains.

"If we don’t make a profit, we are not sustainable. This is why we work with our partners, customers, supplies and our employees to be mindful of sustainability in all aspects.

"In our business, our customers are essentially our partners, so we have to ensure we’re on the same page when it comes to sustainability and other fundamental ideas. We also depend on our suppliers, who we work very closely with through close discussions and joint development."

Two of Marelli China’s key suppliers include Shanghai Fazhiyuan Electric and Yusei Holdings.

"We cannot win without good partners and suppliers," Jin says. "I think that's very important."

Leadership lessons

Looking back over his distinguished career, with over 30 years of management experience, Jin is philosophical about what makes an effective leader.

"I think the key is whether you can develop new leaders," he says. "You have to have a vision and be open-minded; you need to empower others and delegate. You cannot do everything by yourself, so you have to develop a strong team and motivate the team."

As an avid football fan, Jin sees parallels between the functioning of a football team and a business.

"Having a good coach is extremely important for any team," he says. "I think the most important thing, in addition to an individual’s skill, is whether they can work as part of a team, and that depends on the coach.

"So whether you’re a coach on the pitch or a business leader, you have to thoughtfully leverage individuals’ strengths and motivate them to work together."

Yet despite his extensive experience, Jin is humble about his role.

"I don’t think it’s good to position a leader as somebody who is better than, or ahead of other people," he says. "Instead, I believe that being modest helps progress, whereas arrogance makes people lag behind. That’s why we need to be open-minded and be able to see our shortcomings so we can make continuous improvement."

Thanks to Jin’s strategy and exceptional leadership skills, the future looks bright for Marelli China.

"With the talent and experience of the Marelli China team, more cooperation with our partners and suppliers, and more decision-making power, we’re on the right track to make Marelli China great again," he says.

In collaboration with

Shanghai Fazhiyuan

The car wiring specialists ensure high performance for every vehicle. The car wiring specialists ensure high performance for every vehicle. Read More