Prominent philanthropist Chen Guangbiao announced on the afternoon of April 5th via a video posted on his Weibo account that he would be donating funds from the sale of a Rolls-Royce to support the construction of Yanran Hospital. In the video, Chen stated, "Given that Mr. Zhang Xue has not come forward to claim the vehicle, I fully respect Mr. Zhang's wishes and am hereby donating the proceeds from its sale to the Yanran Hospital project. I will continue to support Mr. Li Yapeng's charitable endeavors through various means."
Chen emphasized his commitment to philanthropy, stating his actions are driven by gratitude towards society and the era, aiming to encourage innovation, progress, and promote goodwill and dignity. He concluded by wishing Mr. Zhang success in his business. The donation receipt displayed by Chen showed a transfer of 10 million yuan to the Beijing Chaoyang Yanran Angel Children's Hospital, with a note specifying "Donation for Yanran Hospital construction."
This development follows recent events where Zhang Xue, founder of the Chinese motorcycle brand Zhang Xue Motorcycles, gained significant public attention after his brand achieved a landmark victory at the World Superbike Championship (WSBK), breaking the decades-long dominance of international brands like Ducati, Yamaha, and Kawasaki. The win marked the first time a Chinese motorcycle reached the pinnacle of world-class racing.
On April 1st, Chen Guangbiao had released a video praising Zhang Xue's achievement, calling it a proud moment for Chinese manufacturing. To honor Zhang's contribution to the nation's prestige, Chen announced his intention to gift Zhang what he described as "China's only 2026 extended-wheelbase Rolls-Royce Phantom," valued at approximately 13 million yuan, for his personal use as a reception vehicle.
In response, Zhang Xue, via his verified account "Zhang Xue's Motorcycles," replied that he would accept the car but intended to immediately sell it at a 20% discount through a trusted used car dealer and donate the proceeds to the Yanran Angel Foundation. He humorously added that his company would "make do and continue using a van to pick up clients."
On April 2nd, Chen commented on the response, reiterating that the gift was a personal token of respect for Zhang's spirit and achievements. While he expressed that the car was meant for Zhang's use, he stated he would support Zhang's decision to sell and donate the funds, suggesting they handle the details privately. However, Chen also noted in another post that selling the car for donation was a misunderstanding of his original intent.
With Zhang Xue not proceeding to claim the vehicle, Chen moved forward with selling the car himself and making the donation publicly.
Separately, Zhang Xue recently posted a video expressing concerns about a significant shortage of engineers at his company, including specialists in electronic fuel injection, manufacturing processes, structural engineering, and 3D modeling. He offered a 20% salary increase for successful candidates. Online recruitment posts for Chongqing Zhang Xue Motorcycle Industry Co., Ltd. show active hiring for numerous positions such as engine R&D engineers, vehicle structure engineers, calibration engineers, motorcycle designers, ERP implementation consultants, and overseas operations staff. Salaries range from several thousand to 20,000 yuan per month, with some roles offering a 14-month salary. One report indicated an annual salary of 800,000 to 1.5 million yuan for a Motorcycle Styling Director.
The company's core compensation policy, as disclosed by Zhang Xue, involves two annual salary adjustments. The first, a general adjustment between June and July, covers 90% of employees with an average raise of about 10%. The remaining 10% do not receive a raise and face potential淘汰机制 (elimination mechanisms). The second adjustment at year-end rewards 20% to 30% of top performers with significant raises, potentially up to 30%, 50%, or even 100%. Zhang stated this strategy has helped raise engineer salary levels in the Chongqing area and fosters an internal competitive environment through differential raises and a survival-of-the-fittest approach.