Welding robots work busily in Changan Automobile's factory. (Photo/Zhang Jinhui)

Chongqing - In recent May figures, Chongqing automakers Changan Automobile and Seres posted strong results. Changan drove growth in new energy vehicles (NEVs) and overseas markets, while Seres stayed steady in the premium segment amid tough competition.

Data show that Changan delivered 209,100 vehicles in May. NEVs and overseas markets remained key growth drivers, with NEV deliveries reaching 70,700 units and overseas deliveries totaling 92,400 units during the month.

At the brand level, Changan’s NEV portfolio continued to gain momentum. Changan Qiyuan delivered 34,528 units, Deepal delivered 33,243 units, and Avatr delivered 7,336 units.

Facing intense market competition and rapid technological iteration, Changan has built a three-brand NEV portfolio targeting different market segments. Qiyuan focuses on intelligent mobility, Deepal addresses consumer needs through range-extended powertrains and intelligent technologies, while Avatr targets the premium market with advanced intelligent driving systems.

For Seres, NEV sales reached 33,476 units in May. From January to May, the company sold 145,108 NEVs, up 15.14% year on year. AITO, the premium vehicle brand jointly developed with Huawei, recorded cumulative sales of 130,439 units, up 19.9% year on year, accounting for about 89.9% of Seres' total NEV sales.

Since the second quarter of 2026, AITO has continued to upgrade its product lineup and launch new models, receiving a positive market response. The AITO M6, launched in April, surpassed 20,000 deliveries in its first month. The new-generation AITO M9 series debuted on May 27 and secured more than 20,000 firm orders within 24 hours of launch.

Seres said cross-sector cooperation with Huawei and other technology companies has played a key role in its transformation. Going forward, the company plans to deepen cooperation with technology partners while leveraging both partner-enabled capabilities and its self-developed advanced manufacturing platform to accelerate the application and commercialization of intelligent technologies.

Recently, Seres restructured its subsidiary Landian Technology and renamed it Saidou Technology. Seres reduced its stake to 32.96%, while state-owned capital from Chongqing's Shapingba District and CATL became major shareholders. Saidou Technology will focus on the research and development of AI-powered intelligent connected NEVs. According to several financial media outlets, the company is working with Volcano Engine, a ByteDance subsidiary, to develop next-generation smart cockpit technologies.

Industry analysts noted that China's NEV penetration rate continues to rise while domestic brands maintain a solid market share. Looking ahead, multiple powertrain routes are expected to coexist over the long term, while intelligent user experience is likely to become a key factor shaping competition among automakers.