Austrian executive Stefan Auernig pursues his dreams in Changsha

Austrian executive Stefan Auernig pursues his dreams in Changsha. Combining German rigor with Chinese diligence, he has delved deep into the construction machinery sector. He says, "Building a career in Changsha is like eating Hunan cuisine—the more you savor it, the more addictive it becomes."

Editor's Note
Talent is the "primary engine" fueling a city's upward momentum. Changsha has always taken high-end talent as a guide, built a "stage" for gathering talent, forged a "magnet" for attracting talent, fully optimized the development ecology for overseas talents, and warmly invited outstanding individuals from home and abroad to take root in Changsha with their wisdom and talents, enabling one innovative project after another to bear fruit on this land.
The recently released Chinese Cities Foreign Talent Attraction Index shows that Changsha has been on the list for six consecutive years and ranks 17th in China. This index not only demonstrates Changsha's positive attitude towards welcoming global talents to start businesses in Hunan, but also serves as a vivid testament to Hunan's efforts to build a highland for reform and opening-up in inland areas.
Starting today, the "Hello Changsha" studio is launching the "Foreign Executives in Changsha" series. The series explores the journey of these participants and drivers of Changsha's high-quality development from "foreign visitors" to "China hands," and listens to their dream-chasing stories in Changsha.

In 2015, Austrian young man Stefan Auernig packed his bags and embarked on his journey from the banks of the Danube, and first settled by the Huangpu River. In 2020, he bid farewell to the prosperity of the "Magic City" (Shanghai) and chose Changsha to pursue his dreams. Today, the ginkgo tree he planted in the "Talent Forest" within Jianshanhu Park, Changsha is already full of vitality.
As the Chief Operating Officer of Hunan Deutz Power Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Hunan Deutz), Stefan has chosen to take root in Changsha because "Changsha is home to many strivers and a city suitable for chasing dreams." Having worked and lived in China for over a decade, this foreign executive embodies both the Chinese spirit of perseverance and tenacity and the German rigor. Amid the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, he is writing a story of "creating the future in Changsha."

The Cross-border "Adventure King": "I just choose to put in extra effort while others have meals"
When we first met Stefan, he was standing in front of the office projection screen, breaking down the product performance parameters and sorting out after-sales feedback item by item with colleagues. He spoke fluent Chinese and presented his ideas with clear logic.
Hunan Deutz is a Sino-German joint venture engine manufacturing enterprise. "He is widely recognized as an all-round ace," said Xiang Benjie, the company's deputy general manager. Stefan is familiar with the operations of the German headquarters; when projects get stuck, he can help open up "fast tracks" and dissect technical difficulties with remarkable clarity.
A graduate in construction machinery, Stefan took his first job in Changsha as head of a pharmaceutical equipment enterprise. Prior to that, he also served as a senior executive at companies in Guangdong and Shanghai.
From Austria to China, and from kitchen appliance quality control and medical equipment R&D to construction machinery manufacturing, each cross-border transition was like "passing a checkpoint" was like "overcoming a challenge." Yet Stefan believes they are essentially connected—all centered on high standards and strict requirements for product quality.
"A persistent problem-solver" is how Yang Wei, the company’s Quality Director, describes Stefan. When Stefan first joined Hunan Deutz in 2024, he identified that the product’s underperformance in the market stemmed from communication issues among three parties. He immediately set up a special task force, organized daily meetings for all stakeholders to analyze and discuss, and pushed for product optimization and improvement until customers gave their approval.
In just over a year, Stefan has not only made the cooperation between Chinese and German shareholders more transparent and doubled efficiency, but also helped the company expand its global sales footprint. He said with a smile, "There's a Chinese saying: 'There are always more solutions than difficulties.' I will do my best to facilitate closer cooperation between the Chinese and German shareholders."
Outside of work, Stefan's greatest passion is fitness. To make the most of his time, he keeps a small treadmill in his office—jogging while browsing Chinese e-books during lunch breaks is his routine. When people exclaim that he's a "time management master," he always responds humorously, "I just choose to endure hardships while others are having their meals."

"Imported" Changsha Resident: "Changsha is down-to-earth and hard-driving—perfectly matches my challenge-loving personality"
Paper cuttings, folding fans, and Chinese-style flowers—Stefan’s desk is adorned with many "Chinese elements." Taking a closer look, the teacup holds not tea but coffee. "This Chinese-Western mixed style is exactly the same as my current work atmosphere," he said with a smile, picking up the cup and taking a sip.
When Stefan first saw Chinese characters as a child, he found the complex characters mysterious and interesting. When he decided to teach himself Chinese, his friends couldn’t understand and thought he was "crazy." Hard work pays off: now he can communicate fluently with everyone in Chinese. "I’m a total 'imported' Changsha resident now," Stefan joked during the interview.
Over the years in Changsha, Stefan has not only witnessed the city’s rapid changes but also gradually integrated into local life. "When I first arrived, I found Hunan cuisine so spicy, but now the more I eat it, the more I savour it." These days, he even recommends chopped chilli fish head to his colleagues at the German headquarters.
"Changsha is down-to-earth and hard-driving, which matches my challenge-loving personality." Stefan’s attitude toward building a career in Changsha is just like his feelings about Hunan cuisine—intense at first taste, but increasingly captivating the more you savour it.

Dream-Builder in Changsha: Hoping for More International Platforms to Jointly Pursue New Industry Heights
While people label this foreign executive with titles like "Adventure King," "Almighty Man," and "Time Management Master," Stefan prefers to call himself a "Dream-Builder in Changsha." As he often says, "To grow strong, never shy away from challenges."
This April in Munich, Germany, leading Changsha enterprises including Sany Group, Zoomlion, and CRCC Heavy Industry showcased their presence at bauma Germany, dubbed the "Olympics of global construction machinery." A series of products demonstrated the solid strength of "Changsha Mecha." As a construction machinery professional present at the event, Stefan felt particularly proud: "Changsha enterprises are expanding their booths by the year. Their products are gaining global acclaim for high cost-effectiveness. Through the integration of Chinese and foreign technologies and intelligent manufacturing upgrades, they are bound to secure a more prominent position in the global market."
Now, as Changsha fully commits to building a global R&D center city, Stefan has grown even more determined to "deepen his engagement in the construction machinery sector." He hopes that in the future, more international industry exhibitions and technical forums will take root in Changsha, drawing in outstanding talents worldwide to participate in technological cooperation.
This echoes Changsha’s unremitting pursuit—the city not only offers a promising vision of "low-cost entrepreneurship and high-quality life" but also resonates with the youthful call: "Grab your backpack and set off; come to Changsha to start a career or work." Changsha is a city where talents can thrive, just like a fine tree offering a secure roost.

Source：Changsha Evening News