Chongqing - On April 21, China Changan Automobile Group launched its global strategy at a partner conference in Chongqing, where Chairman Zhu Huarong outlined a roadmap to build a “world-class automotive group” targeting four million global vehicle sales by 2030, with an ambition to reach five million.

On April 21, Zhu Huarong, Chairman of China Changan Automobile Group, unveiled Changan Group's global strategy in Chongqing. (Photo/Changan Group)

Changan Group set clear targets for each business segment. By 2030, AVATR aims to achieve sales of 500,000, DEEPAL 1 million, and the Changan brand 2.6 million.

Meanwhile, Changan Group will integrate internal resources to strengthen coordination between AVATR and DEEPAL, maintaining independent brand positioning at the front end while sharing resources in mid- and back-end operations—to build a mid- to high-end brand cluster with annual sales exceeding 1.5 million.

New energy and globalization are key priorities of the strategy. By 2030, new energy vehicles (NEVs) are expected to reach 2.4 million sales, while overseas sales aim to reach 1.5 million.

The conference noted that the global auto market is expected to reach 100 million by 2030, with NEV penetration approaching 45%. As competition intensifies, the threshold for entering the global top 10 automakers continues to rise.

Zhu said that annual sales of eight to 10 million define strong performance, five to seven million indicate stable survival, and three to 3.5 million represent only basic survival—highlighting the need for higher development targets.

Since its establishment in July 2025, Changan Group has accelerated its growth. Total revenue across all brands has reached 359.8 billion yuan (approx. 52.72 billion U.S. dollars), with total assets exceeding 300 billion yuan. It has also become one of the fastest Chinese automakers to surpass cumulative sales of 30 million.

Targeting world-class status, Changan Group has stepped up its global expansion in recent years. It launched its brand in Europe in March 2025, began production at its new energy vehicle plant in Thailand in May, and put its Brazil plant into operation in March 2026.

These moves align with the broader trend of Chinese automakers expanding overseas. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China’s auto exports reached 2.226 million in 2026 Q1, up 56.7% year on year.

A global partner of Changan Group poses with the AVATR 07. (Photo/Changan Group)

The conference attracted around 700 global partners and international media representatives, reflecting Changan Group’s growing visibility and influence in the global market.

Andrei Iacob, a dealer from Romania, said the global strategy has strengthened their confidence in partnering with Changan Group. He noted that Changan Group’s diversified lineup—covering internal combustion, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles—fits the local market’s transition needs, while its exterior and interior design appeal to consumers.

Vidar Rriksen, Changan Group's Norwegian partner, said the Deepal S05 has made a strong start in the local market, with 1,300 units sold. He noted that Norway is a fully electric vehicle market, where consumers value four-wheel-drive performance, and that Deepal models have demonstrated strong competitiveness in winter testing, as well as in battery and technology performance.

International media representatives from Southeast Asia, Europe, and Eurasia test-experienced Changan Group’s vehicles. (Photo/Changan Group)

Marcelo Padin, editor of Electric Motor News from Italy, based on his test drive, said that the Deepal S07 delivers solid handling even in complex weather conditions. He added that in the highly competitive Italian market, Changan Group could improve consumer acceptance through its quality, design, and more European-oriented styling, while its global R&D and partnerships help strengthen brand credibility.

(Sun Wangpeng and Lu Wanqing, as interns, also contributed to the report)