Introduction: A 160-Year Industrial Odyssey
In the highly contested landscape of the global automotive industry, few manufacturers boast a corporate heritage as storied as Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 000625). Tracing its origins back to December 1862 during the late Qing Dynasty, when statesman and military reformer Li Hongzhang established the Bureau of Western Arms in Shanghai, Changan is recognized as China's oldest continuous industrial enterprise.
From manufacturing military munitions and building China's very first military off-road jeep (the Yangtze River Type 46) in 1959, Changan transitioned into commercial vehicles in the 1980s and passenger cars in the 1990s. Today, headquartered in the southwestern industrial metropolis of Chongqing, Changan has established itself as one of China's 'Big Four' state-owned automotive groups. Selling 2.913 million vehicles in 2025 (1.11 million of them NEVs) and generating CN¥164.0 billion (about $22.8 billion) in revenue, Changan has emerged as a strong global leader at the forefront of the new energy vehicle (NEV) and smart connected driving revolution.
The Dual-Track Transformation: Beyond Foreign Joint Ventures
For decades, major Chinese state-owned automakers relied heavily on profits generated by 50:50 joint ventures with foreign automotive giants. Changan was no exception, operating high-volume manufacturing alliances with Ford Motor Company (Changan Ford), Mazda (Changan Mazda), and previously Suzuki (Changan Suzuki) and PSA Group (Changan PSA).
However, under the stewardship of Chairman Zhu Huarong, Changan recognized that joint venture reliance was a strategic trap. As multinational brands lost pricing power in China's rapidly evolving consumer market, Changan aggressively channeled its capital and engineering muscle into proprietary brand development. Through its 'Third Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program,' Changan systematically expanded its proprietary vehicle lineup, most notably the blockbuster CS35, CS55, and CS75 SUV families and the youth-focused UNI design series. By 2023, vehicles bearing Changan's own proprietary badges accounted for more than 80% of total group deliveries, a higher self-reliance ratio than almost any other state-owned automotive conglomerate in China.
The New Energy Triad: Deepal, Avatr, and Changan Nevo
To dominate China's rapid transition to zero-emission mobility, Changan rejected the practice of merely retrofitting batteries into legacy gasoline vehicle platforms. Instead, the automaker architected a comprehensive multi-brand new energy ecosystem:
- Deepal (Shenlan): Positioned as a mass-market smart electric marque competing directly with BYD, Tesla, and XPENG. Built on Changan's dedicated EPA1 and SDA digital architectures, Deepal vehicles (such as the SL03 sedan, S07 SUV, and G318 rugged off-roader) offer both pure-electric (BEV) and super-extended-range (EREV) configurations, eliminating range anxiety with total driving ranges exceeding 1,200 km.
- Avatr: An ultra-premium intelligent electric vehicle brand created through the groundbreaking CHN Alliance uniting Changan (manufacturing and chassis), CATL (world-leading battery cells), and Huawei (HarmonyOS smart cockpits and Qiankun ADS 3.0 autonomous driving). Vehicles like the Avatr 11 SUV and Avatr 12 gran coupé compete at the technological zenith of smart luxury mobility.
- Changan Nevo (Qiyuan): Designed to accelerate the electrification of mainstream family passenger transport, delivering high-efficiency plug-in hybrid and pure electric sedans and crossovers.
Global R&D Architecture: Six Countries, Nine Locations
A core pillar of Changan's product excellence is its deeply integrated global research and development infrastructure. Operating under the strategic philosophy of 'Global Wisdom, Local Excellence,' Changan established specialized engineering centers across six nations:
- Turin, Italy: Global Exterior and Interior Automotive Design Studio.
- Yokohama, Japan: Interior Craftsmanship, Ergonomics, and Quality Finishing.
- Birmingham, United Kingdom: Advanced Powertrain, Transmission, and Blue Core Hybrid Engineering.
- Detroit, United States: Advanced Chassis Dynamics and Autonomous Safety Systems.
- Munich, Germany: Next-Generation Software and Connected Mobility.
- Chongqing, Shanghai, and Beijing, China: Overall Vehicle Integration, Battery Systems, and Crash Safety Validation.
This decentralized research network allows Changan to produce vehicles with European aesthetic flair, Japanese interior durability, and advanced Chinese software connectivity.
The 'Vast Ocean Plan': Global Expansion Beyond China
In April 2023, Changan officially unveiled its overseas commercial blueprint: the 'Vast Ocean Plan' (Hai Na Bai Chuan). The plan was upgraded to Vast Ocean Plan 2.0 in 2026, and Changan now targets 1.5 million overseas sales by 2030, up from 637,000 in 2025. It is investing in localized manufacturing and distribution outside China.
A primary milestone is its first overseas NEV manufacturing base in Rayong, Thailand. Designed to serve as Changan's primary right-hand-drive export hub for ASEAN markets, Australia, and New Zealand, the plant will produce Deepal and Avatr models locally. Simultaneously, Changan is establishing distribution subsidiaries across Europe, the Middle East, and South America, positioning the marque as a true global competitor to legacy Western automakers.
Conclusion
From an arms foundry in 19th-century Shanghai to a 21st-century software-defined electric vehicle leader, Changan Automobile has continually reinvented itself across eras of profound political, industrial, and technological upheaval. Armed with leadership, high-quality battery and autonomous driving partnerships with CATL and Huawei, and a multi-brand electrified lineup, Changan is setting the pace for the future of intelligent transportation worldwide.
