Former BAIC Chairman Xu Heyi Sentenced to Death With Two-Year Reprieve in Corruption Case

Xu Heyi, the former chairman of Chinese state-owned automaker Beijing Automotive Group, has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve after being convicted of bribery and money laundering, marking another major case in China’s continuing crackdown on corruption among senior state-linked executives.

The verdict was handed down on September 28 by the Beijing No. 3 Intermediate People’s Court, according to Chinese state media. Xu was convicted of accepting bribes and laundering money and was also stripped of political rights for life, with his personal assets ordered confiscated.

Under China’s legal system, a death sentence with a two-year reprieve does not necessarily mean immediate execution. If the defendant commits no intentional crime during the reprieve period, the sentence can generally be commuted to life imprisonment, subject to the relevant legal procedures. Reuters reported that suspended death sentences in China can ultimately result in life imprisonment depending on the conduct of the convicted person during the reprieve.

The ruling represents a dramatic fall for Xu, who previously occupied one of the most influential positions in China’s state-owned automotive sector. During his leadership, BAIC expanded its automotive business and developed major partnerships with international manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.

The court also ordered the confiscation of the proceeds and associated gains from Xu’s bribery offences and their transfer to the state treasury. His money-laundering conviction separately carried a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 200,000 yuan, before the court determined the combined punishment.

Xu’s case comes amid an intensified anti-corruption campaign targeting senior officials and executives connected to major Chinese state-owned enterprises. The campaign has increasingly reached powerful figures across industries including finance, energy and manufacturing.

For China’s automotive industry, the verdict sends a striking message from the country’s courts: senior corporate status offers no protection from criminal prosecution when authorities pursue allegations of corruption.

Xu’s fate will now depend on the legal process during the two-year reprieve, making the verdict not only a punishment but also the beginning of another closely watched chapter in one of China’s most prominent corporate corruption cases.