Liu Qiangdong, investing 5 billion yuan, is entering the yacht industry!

【Introduction】JD.com Founder Liu Qiangdong Personally Invests in Establishing Independent Yacht Brand Sea Expandary

On the first day of the Year of the Horse, JD.com founder and Chairman Liu Qiangdong made a major move by entering the yacht industry. He hopes to eventually produce yachts costing around 100,000 yuan, making yachts as common as cars in households.

On February 24, the first day of the Spring Festival work resumption, Liu Qiangdong’s newly founded yacht brand Sea Expandary signed strategic cooperation agreements with governments in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and other areas. Sea Expandary plans to invest in building a yacht manufacturing base in Zhuhai, establish the China headquarters for yacht business in Shenzhen, and participate in the construction and operation of multiple docks and supporting facilities in Shenzhen. Additionally, Sea Expandary will set up a series of supporting institutions in the Greater Bay Area, including R&D innovation centers, yacht operation service centers, and bonded maintenance centers.

It is understood that Liu Qiangdong recently launched the independent yacht brand Sea Expandary, entering the yacht industry with plans to develop the entire industry chain, including R&D, manufacturing, sales, operation, leasing, brokerage, and services.

In an interview with the media, Liu Qiangdong stated that he will invest 5 billion yuan in Guangdong to develop the yacht industry. This investment is personal; he will not be directly involved in operations and management. His team has a CEO and a complete management structure. He himself will mainly serve as a “product manager,” with most of his energy still focused on JD.com.

Liu Qiangdong mentioned that domestic yacht companies are characterized by small scale, scattered investments, and weak industry strength. Almost no domestic yacht manufacturer has invested more than 10 million yuan. However, yachts are capital- and technology-intensive industries. He believes that investing 5 billion yuan in Guangdong is necessary to compete with top global European and American yacht manufacturers. He also expressed the hope of eventually producing yachts costing around 100,000 yuan, making yachts as accessible as cars for ordinary households.

According to reports, Sea Expandary will focus on new energy intelligent yachts, aiming to help Chinese yachts achieve “overtaking on the curve” in the “green” and “smart manufacturing” sectors, filling a gap in China’s civilian shipbuilding industry.

Public information shows that the yacht brand Sea Expandary, founded by Liu Qiangdong, has launched its official website at se.360cec.com. According to the site, Sea Expandary aims to be a leading global green intelligent yacht ecosystem, serving the worldwide market. It plans to build a full-chain yacht industry integrating R&D, design, manufacturing, global sales, yacht club services, and ocean exploration services, providing top-tier products and services to global yacht customers.

The official website states that the brand will deeply apply AI and robotics technology to create safer, smarter, quieter, environmentally friendly, and more comfortable yachts.

According to the Ministry of Transport, in the past three years, the number of yachts in China has increased significantly. Newly registered yachts account for about 54.7% of the total yachts. By the end of 2025, the number of registered yachts in China is expected to reach 9,850, and growth is expected to continue during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.