He is the founder of Shanghai-based electric vehicle companies Human Horizons (since 2017) and HiPhi (since 2019).
[5][6] Previously, he served as vice chairman of LeSEE electric car company from 2015 to 2017, deputy district mayor of Pudong New District from 2013 to 2015, and vice president of Shanghai Automotive Group and general manager of Shanghai General Motors from 2007 to 2011.
[11] In 1988, Ding Lei joined Shanghai Volkswagen, where he served as an engineer in the Quality Assurance Department.
By January 2004, he had risen to the position of Deputy Manager of the Technical Quality Department at Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.
[18] Since August 2017, Ding has been the Chairman of Human Horizons,[19] as well as East Coast Capital.