- Dreame Auto’s automotive CEO Chen Longdong has stepped down amid a major organizational reshuffle.
- Dreame consolidated car projects into its research institute and cut about 12% of staff.
- The company’s 2027 mass-production EV timeline is now unclear as development pace slows.
Dreame Auto is undergoing a significant organizational reshuffle, with a Chinese media reporting that Chen Longdong, a senior executive and CEO of Xingchen Future Automobile under Dreame’s automotive arm, has stepped down.
At the same time, the company has consolidated its automotive operations into its internal industry research institute.
Meanwhile, the pace of vehicle mass production development has shifted, raising fresh uncertainty over its previously stated 2027 production timeline.
Chen joined Xingchen Future (Suzhou) Automotive Technology in June 2025, serving as legal representative and CEO, overseeing overall vehicle development coordination, including product execution and external OEM partnership alignment.
During his tenure, Dreame Auto had publicly showcased multiple concept vehicles, including high-performance supercar and SUV programs emphasizing design ambition and performance specifications.
Dreame formally entered the automotive sector in August 2025, announcing the establishment of an independent car-making entity and assembling a team of around 1,000 employees.
The company outlined plans to launch a premium EV model by 2027 and evaluate overseas manufacturing sites.
At the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, Dreame presented the Nebula NEXT 01 super coupe and the Nebula NEXT 01X large SUV, along with chassis and intelligent systems concept platforms.
On April 27, the company further unveiled the Nebula NEXT 01 JET Edition “rocket car” concept in Silicon Valley, emphasizing high-performance engineering and futuristic design language.
Meanwhile, Starry Sky Plan Automobile, controlled by founder Yu Hao, disclosed equity freezing information in May, involving approximately RMB 2.3225 million ($343,000), with restrictions lasting until May 2029.
Beyond external pressures, internal skepticism over the automaking strategy had already surfaced.
In early 2026, some employees reportedly questioned internal communications and project execution pace, describing management cadence as overly reactive.
In June, Dreame further streamlined its structure, consolidating more than 200 business units into four core segments: smart cleaning, smart appliances, smart mobility, and embodied AI. Remaining initiatives were either integrated or discontinued.
Previously high-profile automotive and smartphone-related projects will now be placed under the industry research institute framework, focusing primarily on R&D and academic-industrial collaboration.
The restructuring has also been accompanied by workforce adjustments, with external estimates suggesting an overall reduction of around 12%.
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