A Conversation with He Tao, Former XPeng Co-Founder: On My Second Act, Redefining Smart Electric Motorcycles in Southeast Asia

A Conversation with He Tao, Former XPeng Co-Founder: On My Second Act, Redefining Smart Electric Motorcycles in Southeast Asia

June 30, 2025

For this episode, we're joined by He Tao, founder of OMOWAY and former co-founder of Xpeng Motors, to talk about his "second act" as an entrepreneur.

In August 2024, He Tao, who had "retired" from Xpeng, ended his "halftime break." After summiting several snow-capped mountains, he decided to start anew. Together with former Xpeng VP Jiao Qingchun, he founded OMOWAY, a smart electric motorcycle brand focused on Southeast Asia, with the goal of building smarter, safer, and better two-wheeled mobility products.

In Southeast Asia, motorcycles are ridden for more than two hours daily on average. But because both hands must stay on the handlebars, riders can't operate their phones — leaving them in a persistent "intelligence vacuum." OMOWAY's solution is "four wheels attacking two wheels": transplanting automotive-grade smart technology onto motorcycles. Binocular cameras for assisted driving, self-balancing systems, cornering assistance, blind-spot monitoring. The center console runs a full vehicle OS with navigation, entertainment, and IoT connectivity.

"In the future, when users choose a motorcycle, they probably won't ask 'where does smart rank on the priority list' — they'll simply ask 'does this bike have intelligence or not,'" He Tao predicts.

Compared to ordinary e-bikes or traditional gas motorcycles, OMOWAY's range, carrying capacity, and intelligence are in an entirely different league — like comparing a Santana from 20 years ago to a smart car today.

In June 2024, OMOWAY raised its angel round from ZhenFund. A year later, on the eve of its Indonesia launch, we sat down with He Tao to discuss his entrepreneurial thinking: How does OMOWAY use intelligence to redefine two-wheeled mobility in Southeast Asia? From GAC to Xpeng to OMOWAY, how does he view the challenges of serial entrepreneurship? And what advice does he have for young people looking to start companies?

Years ago, He Xiaopeng told He Tao something he's never forgotten: "The moment you step out of the car, you've chosen a different road." Now, as he sets out once again, let's hear from He Tao about the remarkable scenery he's found along the way.

He Tao: Founder of OMOWAY, former co-founder of Xpeng Motors

Restarting from a 7,000-Meter Summit

  • 00:34 Second departure: From Xpeng to OMOWAY
  • 00:53 What fundamentally distinguishes OMOWAY's smart electric motorcycle from other two-wheelers on the market?
  • 02:20 At 7,000 meters, I decided the halftime break was over
  • 03:12 Why Southeast Asia? Why smart motorcycles?

Going Global Means "Four Wheels Attacking Two Wheels, China Attacking Overseas"

  • 04:39 Going global absolutely requires "localization"
  • 06:41 "Two-step" strategy: Build awareness and brand first, then attack the mainstream market
  • 07:55 When you spot a Tesla on the street, you can't easily guess whether the owner is a white-collar worker or a billionaire
  • 10:33 In the future, intelligence will become the "standard configuration" for motorcycles
  • 12:56 Making electric motorcycles in Southeast Asia: How to target the "intelligence vacuum" in riding?
  • 14:06 Four wheels attacking two wheels, China attacking overseas

Entrepreneurship Requires an Impulse Without a Plan

  • 17:27 The moment you step out of the car, you've chosen a different road
  • 19:19 For first-time entrepreneurs: Planning your life too clearly is exactly what stops you from starting a company
  • 20:00 For this generation, cars increasingly resemble AI on wheels
  • 21:06 The most important lesson at Xpeng: Crisis always hides in plain, sunny days
  • 24:00 No matter how many times you start a company, you'll always choose to build ToC products

Culture Is a Company's Soul

  • 26:07 From programmer to number one: Culture is the most important soul of a company
  • 28:30 Entrepreneurship is addictive; a life by the rules gradually loses its appeal
  • 29:53 How to build a team? Interview at least the first 100 people yourself
  • 30:23 How to define a "smart" young person: Resilient, gritty, logical

He Tao says, "This is a motorcycle with serious tech presence."

The front fascia makes a strong visual impact — sharp angles, clearly defined. It's packed with practical features too. The center storage box detaches to become a flat footrest, better matching Indonesian user habits; when attached, it offers generous space for helmets, rain gear, whatever you need. Side panniers can be added on both sides, and an adjustable rear top case fits at the back — configure it to seat up to three people, transforming it into a touring bike.

At the Indonesia launch event, OMOWAY's smart motorcycle made its entrance via autonomous driving, with no rider.

The front carries binocular cameras for assisted driving. The center console runs a full vehicle OS — navigation, entertainment, IoT vehicle connectivity.

Producers: Cindy, Dylan, Neya

Post-production: newAction

Words of Truth is a general business podcast produced by ZhenFund, where the ZhenFund investment team invites leaders across fields to share the latest trends and industry insights.

Founded in 2011, ZhenFund is one of China's earliest angel investment firms. Since its inception, ZhenFund has been actively seeking out the most exceptional entrepreneurial teams and era-defining investment opportunities in artificial intelligence, chips and semiconductors, robotics and hardware, healthcare, enterprise services, new energy, cross-border expansion, consumer lifestyle, and beyond.

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