Fox ESS CEO Michael Zhu Named to Fortune China’s 2026 “40 Under 40” List

The recognition highlights Zhu’s leadership as Fox ESS expands its global energy storage business and invests in integrated product development.

Fox ESS, a global leader in renewable energy solutions, is pleased to announce that Michael Zhu, the founder & CEO of Fox ESS has been named to Fortune China’s 2026 40 Under 40 list, which recognizes some of the country’s most influential individuals shaping the business world.

Leadership Drives Fox ESS’s Global Growth

Michael Zhu has spent more than 15 years deep in renewable energy industry, bringing both a global strategic outlook and proven, hands-on leadership. Zhu stays close to the market, conducting research and engaging directly with customers. Under his direction, Fox ESS was among the first to introduce the sector’s first stacked energy-storage battery solution, while steadily expanding into key regions including Europe, Australia and South America.

In the first half of 2026, according to Infolink, Fox ESS ranked first in global residential energy-storage system shipments. In Australia, one of the world’s most competitive markets, Fox ESS captured more than 30% of the market. S&P Global Energy data put the company at the top of the global residential storage market for 2025.

In 2025, Fox ESS also earned top-tier certifications for leading photovoltaic and energy-storage brands across multiple European markets, including Germany, the UK, and Italy. Its latest product line, the Power Beast series, has introduced a pioneering dual-tower stacked technology—setting a new direction for the industry.

Long-Term Investment Builds Innovation and Trust

Fox ESS is aiming for a lasting lead in energy storage, a goal that, Zhu says, requires it to look beyond short-term returns and invest for the long term.

 “From day one, we have insisted on developing all our core products in-house and keeping control of the entire process,” he said.

This research-led strategy has helped Fox ESS improve installation efficiency, software usability and system performance. In a storage-system assessment by HTW Berlin, the company’s system achieved a 97% System Performance Index (SPI), a record, and earned an A rating in the 10kW category.

Fox ESS has also invested heavily in manufacturing. Its second Wenzhou factory opened on 1 June 2026. Covering 69 mu (about 4.6 hectares), it focuses on PCBA, batteries and core commercial and industrial storage products, with automated production lines and a fully-automated warehouse. For a company serving markets worldwide, production efficiency, quality and delivery speed shape its performance.

This year, Fox ESS refreshed its global brand and introduced “Maimai”, a new brand character. Through its “the Champion's Choice” campaign, the company selects outstanding figures in their respective fields as brand ambassadors. “Brands need to build relationships with customers over time”, Zhu said.

Fox ESS has established a strong after-sales network. As of November 2026, Fox ESS has reached more than 90 countries and regions. The company operates 5 R&D centers and 14 global subsidies&offices, with a workforce exceeding 5,000 employees, including more than 500 in research and development. Its AI research team numbers over 150.

For Zhu, commercial success is only part of the mission, building a business with social responsibility matters just as much. The company’s operating philosophy is straightforward: do the right things, and make complex problems simpler. Zhu believes common sense often points to the right decision. A company’s long-term prospects, he says, depend less on a lucky bet than on consistently making the right choices, even when no one is watching.