James Chai, a Master’s Degree holder, has studied at Automotive Engineering Department of Tsinghua University and Business School of Colorado State University respectively. He is also a PMP certified by Project Management Institute, USA. Since 1990, James Chai has served at China Academy for Launch-Vehicle Technology, Mercedes-Benz Beijing Liaison Office, Fiat Auto Beijing Representative Office, ASIMCO Group subsequently, holding various technical and managerial positions. He was named Director of Convention & Exhibition Department, then Assistant Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Automotive Committee (CCPIT-Auto) in 2009, mainly responsible for the execution of top level conferences and auto shows, as well as international cooperation. He was the key person to create the Global Automotive Forum in 2010 as the Secretary General of GAF Organizing Committee. Under his overall leadership, Global Automotive Forum, with 900+ participants, 80+ speakers, 20+ sessions and 150+ media organizations, has been ranked among top 10 most influential conferences in China since 2012. James is one of the 3 best performance award owners at CCPIT-Auto in 2012-2015. He is also a leading co-author of a popular science book Autonomous Driving Changes the Future, of 286 pages in size, published by China Machine Press in November 2017, and its English version going to be launched early 2020 by Springer of Germany.

Yang Jian has worked as managing editor of Automotive News China, a publication of Detroit-based Automotive News Group, since 2008.

Prior to this, he was managing editor of CFO China, an Economist Group publication. He has broad experience covering China's economy, writing about financial and business topics for 20 years.

A native of Jiangsu province, he graduated at Shanghai-based Fudan University with BA in English and Literature and MA in Economics.

Bill Russo is the Shanghai-based Founder and CEO of Automobility Limited, a strategy and investment advisory firm helping its clients to create the future of mobility. His over 35 years of experience includes 15 years as an automotive executive, including 14 years of experience in China and Asia. He has also worked nearly 12 years in the electronics and information technology industries. He has worked as an advisor and consultant for numerous multinational and local Chinese firms in the formulation and implementation of their global market and product strategies.

In his current role, Bill advises start-ups, corporations and investors on how to maximize their participation in China’s Automobility Revolution. In order to achieve success, he believes they must expand their focus from the product (the automobile) to the utility derived from the product (“automobility”), and create a business model and digital ecosystem optimized to provide digitally enabled solutions for both car owners and mobility services users.

Bill was previously the regional head of Chrysler in North East Asia, where he successfully negotiated agreements with partners and obtained required approvals from the China government to bring six new vehicle programs to the market in a three-year period, while concurrently establishing an infrastructure for local sourcing and sales distribution.

Lei Xing is Chief Editor of China Business Update/China Automotive Review (CBU/CAR) and president of CBU Info Resources Inc. CBU/CAR is dedicated to providing information, intelligence and views exclusively on the Chinese auto industry and publishes the only monthly English tabloid magazine on the industry: China Automotive Review, now in its 14th year distributed worldwide.

Lei is responsible for the entire operation of the company including publications and customized market research and consulting projects. Lei has been with CBU/CAR since 2001, holding various positions and responsible for different newsletters and publications. He assumed his current position in 2013.

Some of the global automotive OEM and supplier CEOs Lei has interviewed in the past include Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, Carlos Ghosn, former Chairman and CEO, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Dr. Stefan Sommer, former CEO of ZF, Don Walker, CEO of Magna International, Henrik Fisker, founder and CEO of Fisker Inc., Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen Group, Oliver Blume, CEO of Porsche and Wolf-Henning Scheider, CEO of ZF.

Lei has Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an MBA from Babson College.