Li Shufu

Li Shufu is the kind of entrepreneur I find genuinely inspiring. Rising out of Taizhou to build Geely into a global force, eventually absorbing Volvo, is a story of nerve as much as strategy. What strikes me most is his refusal to accept that an outsider from a provincial town couldn't compete with established carmakers. He didn't just ride China's reform wave, he actively shaped his corner of it. The recognition he received for reform-era entrepreneurship feels earned. To me he embodies a stubborn, almost defiant ambition that turns long odds into landmark results, and I respect that immensely.

Name (English)

Li Shufu

Name (Japanese)

李書福

Born

June 25, 1963 (age 63)

Zodiac / Chinese zodiac

Cancer / Rabbit

Origin

Taizhou, People's Republic of China

Occupation

entrepreneur / businessperson

University

Peking University

Awards & achievements

• 2018 Pioneer of Reform
• 100 Outstanding Private Entrepreneurs in the 40 Years of Reform and Opening-up

• Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%20Shufu
• Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%8E%E6%9B%B8%E7%A6%8F
• Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q717785

Tags

• entrepreneur
• businessperson

Last updated

2026-06-20

Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.