Chongqing - With China’s annual Two Sessions set to open on March 4, Bridging News spoke with Zhu Huarong, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and Chairman of China Changan Automobile Group. He revealed this year's suggestion to prevent industry over-competition and address the automotive industry’s shift from traditional manufacturing to a new ecosystem.
Zhu Hurong, deputy to the National People's Congress and Chairman of China Changan Automobile Group, delivers his speech at a press conference. (Photo/Changan)
Chongqing is a major hub for China’s automotive industry. According to the Chongqing Bureau of Statistics, the city reached an output of 2.787 million vehicles in 2025, a 9.7% increase from the previous year, ranking it first among all cities in China for automotive production. As production climbs, the city is also stepping up efforts to expand car exports.
China Changan Automobile Group, the third Chinese central state-owned automotive enterprise based in Chongqing, owns Changan Automobile, the city's leading automaker, which plays a key role in executing the strategy to export Chongqing-made vehicles.
Zhu noted that Changan’s overseas sales will surpass 630,000 units by 2025, up from just 53,000 units in 2020, marking an 11-fold increase in five years.
In addition to exporting vehicles, Changan is also advancing the export of its technology. Zhu explained that Changan has been exporting its technology platforms to international automakers like Ford, Mazda, and Stellantis.
The rapid growth in Changan's overseas sales can be attributed to the company’s strong focus on its international strategy, with a clear plan and prioritization as a major development direction.
Zhu summarized Changan’s clear global strategy. Changan has divided the world into eight regions, with full expansion into China, Southeast Asia, Europe, the CIS, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America and Japan-Korea are strategic regions, with a long-term research approach for entering those markets.
Automobile exports have become a major driver of China’s automotive industry. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China’s vehicle exports are expected to exceed 7 million units in 2025, reaching 7.098 million, a year-on-year increase of 21.1%.
The rapid growth in China’s car exports in recent years is largely attributed to the progress in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector, with a surge in demand for NEV exports. In 2025, NEV exports are expected to reach 2.615 million units, doubling the 1.3 million units in the previous year.
Many Chinese automakers are expanding their overseas production capacity. Several factories have already started operations, including Changan’s plant in Thailand, which is set to begin production in May 2025, and BYD and Great Wall Motors’ plants in Brazil, which will start production in July and August 2025, respectively.
On the production line at Changan Automobile’s factory, a Chongqing-made vehicle moves to the next stage of assembly. (Photo/Tian Zhiming)
As a deputy to the National People’s Congress, Zhu is committed to his duties concerning China’s automotive industry and Chongqing. In 2026, he plans to propose ideas for preventing industry over-competition, mitigating its spillover effects on global industries, and addressing the automotive industry’s shift from traditional manufacturing to a new ecosystem.