Singapore – As Chinese automakers are accelerating their global push, Singapore has emerged as a testing ground for Chinese new energy vehicles. Its strict quality and service standards are putting Changan Auto's full industrial chain to the test, said Guan Xin, Vice President of Changan Auto Southeast Asia Co Ltd.
"Singapore isn't a large-volume market, with annual new car sales of just over 50,000 units," Guan told Bridging News on the sidelines of the 2025 Land-Sea Economic Forum held in Singapore on June 12. "But as a developed country, it has very high standards for vehicle quality, branding, and after-sales service."
On April 18, 2023, Changan Automobile launched its global strategy, the "Vast Ocean Plan," with ambitions to invest over $10 billion in overseas markets, achieve annual overseas sales of more than 1.2 million units, grow its international workforce to over 10,000 employees, and become a world-class automotive brand by 2030.
"Since then, our first overseas business unit to be established was the Southeast Asia division," said Guan. "We've been leveraging the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor to drive sales of new energy vehicles in countries along the corridor, while expanding our after-sales service network and building charging and battery-swapping infrastructure."
Chinese automakers are shifting from simply exporting vehicles to exporting entire industrial ecosystems, a trend increasingly evident in the country's global expansion push, Guan observed.
In the early stages, going global often meant selling finished vehicles overseas through trade and setting up sales channels. It was a fast, low-investment way to enter foreign markets, Guan explained in his keynote speech at the forum. But it also had clear limitations—mainly a short-term focus on sales performance and market share, with little emphasis on deeper integration or long-term growth.
Now, the model is evolving. Ecosystem-based expansion takes things further, he noted. "It's not just about selling cars, but bringing our technology, supply chain, and service systems to local markets. From R&D and manufacturing to services, we deliver a complete set of standards, creating a full ecosystem. This model not only drives product sales, but also enhances a company's overall competitiveness through the synergy of the entire ecosystem."
As a leading example of Chongqing-made vehicles going global, Changan Auto is working to take its entire industrial ecosystem overseas—not just its supply chain, but also after-sales services, training programs, and financial systems, Guan said in the interview.
The Southeast Asian market is still largely dominated by Japanese brands and traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, he noted, "For new energy vehicle makers like us, we must bring our entire system abroad. Only by doing so can we compete with well-known international brands and achieve better local operations. This will enhance our competitiveness through regional integration and allow our products to better meet the needs of local consumers."
In November 2023, Changan held a brand launch event in Thailand for the Southeast Asian market, and has since introduced seven models—including the Deepal S07, E07, and Avatr 11—across Thailand, Australia, and Singapore. In May 2025, the company began operations at its first overseas new energy vehicle production base: the Rayong Plant in Thailand. Changan is also seeking deeper collaboration through joint ventures and partnerships in Singapore to strengthen the international presence of its New Energy Vehicle (NEV) business.
As of May, Changan Auto's cumulative sales had surpassed 28.61 million units, making it the first Chinese brand to cross the 20 million mark.
(Huan Ran and Jiang Anqi as interns, also contributed to the report.)