China

Sea Expandary

According to local media reports, Richard Liu Qiangdong, founder and chairman of JD.com and a superyacht owner, announced on 24 February the launch of an independent yacht brand, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8714" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Expandary (Company)">Sea Expandary</a>.The venture is understood to involve an investment of approximately USD 700 million in Guangdong, spanning research and development, manufacturing, sales, operations, leasing, brokerage and after-sales services.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/386472/image/large-ca421d2fafbb43fc23ad870f1a97b7b3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/386472">On the same day, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8714" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Expandary (Company)">Sea Expandary</a> signed cooperation agreements with the Zhuhai Municipal Government, the Shenzhen Marine Development Bureau and the Qianhai Authority.Plans outlined in local reporting indicate that the company intends to establish a yacht manufacturing base in Zhuhai, focusing on new-energy propulsion systems, intelligent navigation technologies, advanced materials and interior design, as part of a wider industry cluster within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8714" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Expandary (Company)">Sea Expandary</a> is also expected to locate its China headquarters in Shenzhen, where it would oversee domestic operations, brand management, supply-chain coordination and international market development.&nbsp;Additional proposals include the creation of research and development centres, operational service hubs and bonded maintenance facilities across the Greater Bay Area, alongside the construction of three marinas in each of Shenzhen and Zhuhai.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/361586/image/large-41fa3f5ab9176855c34ec1cacaf369de.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/361586">In comments to local media, Liu stated: “Only by doing this can we truly compete with the world’s top yacht manufacturers in Europe and the United States.” He added that his primary focus will remain on JD.com and that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8714" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Expandary (Company)">Sea Expandary</a>’s yachts are intended to be powered entirely by new-energy technologies.Liu also drew a comparison with the early development of the automobile industry, suggesting that, just as cars were once beyond the reach of most consumers, yachts could become more widely accessible over time.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/386528/image/large-ac18974277bb47126ecdd41da712a4c7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/386528">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit 2026Following two successful editions in Hong Kong, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/325" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit - 2026 - 3rd Edition">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a> will move to Japan in 2026. The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/events/asia-pacific-superyacht-summit-2026-3rd-edition" target="_blank">event</a> will take place on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 May in Kobe, hosted at Hotel La Suite Kobe Oceans Garden.As Japan continues to open its market to international superyacht traffic and expand its marina and service infrastructure, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/events/asia-pacific-superyacht-summit-2026-3rd-edition" target="_blank">summit</a> will examine how the country is positioning itself within the wider Asia-Pacific yachting landscape, alongside broader regulatory, operational and investment trends across the region.The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/events/asia-pacific-superyacht-summit-2026-3rd-edition" target="_blank">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a> brings together owners, operators and industry stakeholders to explore how emerging and established markets can work together to support sustainable, year-round superyacht activity across Asia-Pacific.Early Bird tickets are available <a href="https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/asia-pacific-superyacht-summit-2026-tickets-1979724982716?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank">here</a>.

Richard Liu Announces $700 Million investment in yacht manufacturing

Richard Liu, founder of JD.com, has unveiled Sea Expandary, a new yacht venture backed by a reported $700 million investment in Guangdong.