Who owns WM Motor? The ownership chain, WM Motor Technology Group Co., Ltd.'s stake and the 2015 deal
Facts checked Chinese holding 100%
WM Motor was Chinese. The Shanghai electric-car start-up, also sold as Weltmeister, was one of the first of the 2015 wave and entered restructuring in 2023. It is defunct as a going concern.
The Weltmeister / WM marque belongs to WM Motor Technology Group of Shanghai, which has been in court reorganisation since a pre-restructuring filing in October 2023.
The short answer
| Controlled by | WM Motor Technology Group Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Stake | 100% |
| Since | January 2015 |
| Kind | brand |
| Origin | CN |
| Name in Chinese | 威马 “way-MAH” |
| Top of the chain | Shenzhen Xiangfei Automobile Sales Co., Ltd. |
| Is it Chinese? | Yes |
The chain, step by step
Shenzhen Xiangfei Automobile Sales Co., Ltd. controls WM Motor Technology Group Co., Ltd. since September 2025.
Shenzhen Xiangfei Automobile Sales announced on 6 September 2025 that it had become the restructuring investor and new shareholder of WM Motor's four operating entities, taking control of them, with RMB 1bn committed to equipment, supply chain and development. The percentage held was not disclosed.
WM Motor Technology Group Co., Ltd. owns WM Motor at 100% since January 2015.
The Weltmeister / WM marque belongs to WM Motor Technology Group of Shanghai, which has been in court reorganisation since a pre-restructuring filing in October 2023.
| Holder | Holds | Kind | Stake | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen Xiangfei Automobile Sales Co., Ltd. | WM Motor Technology Group Co., Ltd. | controls | controls | September 2025 |
| WM Motor Technology Group Co., Ltd. | WM Motor | owns | 100% | January 2015 |
WM Motor: questions people ask
- Is WM Motor dead?
- It stopped selling cars in 2023 and went into court reorganisation, but it has not been wound up. A new owner, Shenzhen Xiangfei Automobile Sales, took control of its operating entities and announced a production restart in September 2025.
- What does Weltmeister mean?
- It is German for 'world champion'. The Chinese name 威马 (Wēimǎ) approximates the sound and reads as 'power' plus 'horse'.
- Who owns WM Motor?
- Since September 2025, Shenzhen Xiangfei Automobile Sales, which became the restructuring investor and new shareholder of the group's four operating entities. It was founded by Freeman Shen in 2015 and earlier backed by Baidu and Tencent.
- Why did WM Motor fail?
- It spent heavily on its own factories, its sales fell from 44,152 in 2021 to zero in 2023, and successive attempts to list in Hong Kong and the United States failed to raise money. It filed for pre-restructuring in October 2023.
Related
Sources for WM Motor
- Wikipedia, Weltmeister (marque). Read . Founding, founders, investors, models, sales by year and the restructuring timeline
- CnEVPost, WM Motor's new owner announces EV maker's comeback, set to resume production this month. Read . Shenzhen Xiangfei as restructuring investor and the announced production and revenue plans
- CnEVPost, WM Motor files for 'pre-restructuring', says it will seek rebirth. Read . The October 2023 pre-restructuring filing
- Wikipedia, List of automobile manufacturers of China. Read . Chinese manufacturer list, including former makers.