On May 10 at 7:00 a.m., at the east side of Gate 4 of Great Wall Motor’s Xushui factory on Minzhu Road, Baoding City, the starting gun sounded for the 2026 Great Wall Motor Smart Factory Half Marathon. The race saw energized runners set off in a spirited wave, with morning breezes, enthusiastic crowds, and cheers blending into a vibrant display of passion and energy.
As a unique marathon that takes place inside an automotive factory, the Great Wall Motor Smart Factory Half Marathon has drawn widespread attention. This year’s event carried the theme “Mother’s love is a marathon that never ends,” held on Mother’s Day, making it a heartfelt public occasion celebrating family bonds.
After an intense competition, Wu Zhenglin claimed the men’s championship with a time of 1 hour 6 minutes and 45 seconds. An Zhen and Tian Jie secured the men’s runner-up and third place, respectively. Pan Hong won the women’s title with a time of 1 hour 16 minutes and 47 seconds, followed by Yang Xiaoli in second place and Yang Kaixuan in third.
A marathon like no other: witnessing the passing of love in a smart factory
During the race, participants ran through the stamping, welding, and assembly workshops as well as the high-speed test track, moving amid cheers that echoed through the facility. The course embodied the spirit of perseverance and self-transcendence while offering runners a firsthand look at the charm of Chinese manufacturing. The Great Wall team provided full support, including stretching and ice baths, medal engraving, and comprehensive medical coverage.
In the second edition of the “Accompanying Mom” open day at the Great Wall Motor Smart Factory, Chairman Wei Jianjun joined the runners, sharing the joy of the run. The appearance of models such as the Wey V9X, new Tank 700, Haval Raptor PLUS, Ora 5, Great Wall Pao Hi4-T, and Great Wall Soul S2000GL added a striking highlight to the event.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, Great Wall Motor organized a variety of engaging activities. The “Time Corridor” showcased scenes from the 1960s to the present, including an old kitchen, a school setting, and a hearth mending area, creating an emotional journey from childhood to adulthood—from being cared for to giving back.
At the Carnation Confession Zone, participants picked flowers from a carnelian wall to express love and blessings for their mothers. An AI service generated commemorative photos for mothers who could not attend. Other interactive activities, such as a Mother’s Day stamp collection, were also well received.
On the food front, many “city star” employees and their mothers were present, preparing childhood dishes that evoked warm family memories. The Great Wall team also served local treats like acacia flower dumplings and sesame sauce cold noodles, alongside authentic Baoding specialties such as donkey meat fire and beef pie.
Sincerity and warmth: a unique expression of a long-term strategy
The 2026 Great Wall Motor Smart Factory Half Marathon was an event full of passion and joy, a tribute to Mother’s Day, and a distinctive presentation of Great Wall Motor’s development strategy. The company’s commitment to linking users with sincerity and contributing to society aligns closely with the marathon spirit of perseverance, which in turn mirrors Great Wall Motor’s long-term philosophy.
During the event, Chairman Wei Jianjun gave interviews to multiple media outlets, reiterating the importance of bottom-line thinking, long-termism, pursuing quality market share, and protecting users.
To implement this long-term strategy, Great Wall Motor has consistently prioritized R&D and quality, backed by a strong commitment to service. On the R&D front, the company maintains high annual investments, with an engineering R&D team of 27,000 people. In terms of quality, Great Wall Motor has invested nearly 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) to build a comprehensive testing system, including a multi-purpose proving ground and an environmental wind tunnel laboratory. A safety laboratory, with total investment of 510 million yuan ($71 million), was launched in 2025. On the service side, Great Wall Motor continues to strengthen its “technology, emotion, and ecosystem” service model, ensuring that professionalism and warmth work together.
By promoting national fitness and a healthy lifestyle, Great Wall Motor plans to continue participating in social activities like marathons, focusing on the long-term track. Through superior products and services, the company aims to repay the trust of global users, become a more respected provider of a better life, and create lasting value for society.
