Chongqing - In the first three quarters of this year, Chongqing's GDP grew by 6%, ranking second nationwide among provincial-level regions. While GDP growth was notable, the performance of several key industries stood out. Chongqing's value-added industrial output increased by 8.1% year-on-year from January to September, with the automotive sector leading the charge at an impressive 25.9% growth in added value, contributing 4.5 percentage points to the city’s overall economic growth.

Avatr 12 Extended-Range Version Unveiled. (Photo/Yang Jun)

Automobiles have become the primary driver of Chongqing’s economy, with a significant portion of this growth attributed to the booming new energy vehicles (NEVs) and intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs). According to officials from the Chongqing Economic and Information Technology Commission, growth in Chongqing’s NEV segment has soared to over ten times that of the broader automotive sector, now accounting for nearly 90% of the industry's expansion.

From January to September, Chongqing produced 1.735 million vehicles, up 8% year-on-year—6.1 percentage points higher than the national average. Of these, 594,000 were NEVs, a staggering 130.7% increase, outpacing the national NEV growth rate by 99 percentage points.

Chongqing’s strength in the NEV and ICV sectors stems from its strategic emphasis on transforming the automotive industry toward new energy, intelligence, high-end production, and sustainability. Chongqing’s "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system prioritizes the development of an internationally competitive NEV and ICV sector, systematically fostering an industry cluster that supports the entire value chain. The city’s efforts are now yielding visible results.

October saw a significant boost for Chongqing’s auto industry leader, Changan Automobile, which launched six new models within the month, including the extended-range Avatr 12 and several other flagship models. Known for its early investments in NEVs since 2001, Changan’s commitment to R&D through several projects and strategies has equipped the company with competitive core technologies. Changan's NEV sales exceeded 530,000 units from January to October, marking a 45% year-on-year increase and a record-breaking monthly sales figure of 85,000 units in October.

Workers busy at the Seres Auto Super Factory in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing. (Photo/Zhang Jinhui, Visual Chongqing)

Another Chongqing-based automaker, Seres, has also gained momentum. They collaborate with Huawei on product design, software and hardware integration, and market expansion. Their flagship model, the AITO M9, has disrupted the luxury car market traditionally dominated by international brands, leading to explosive growth. Seres’ NEV sales reached 352,724 units from January to October, up an impressive 310.99%.

Chongqing has fostered a robust supply chain supporting these automakers with over 300 local NEV and ICV component manufacturers. The sector now covers three main systems, 12 assemblies, and 56 essential parts, enabling growth across the industry.

The shift toward new market segments has led to a surge of high-value, high-performance “Chongqing-made” vehicles. Models priced over 200,000 yuan now represent 24.3% of Chongqing’s auto production, doubling since the end of 2021 and underscoring the city’s growing influence in the automotive industry.

(Bai Lin, a reporter from Chongqing Daily, contributed the Chinese version of this report.)