Chongqing - Chongqing automakers Changan and Seres reported strong sales, highlighting China’s accelerating shift toward smart new-energy vehicles as well as rising strength in electrification and overseas expansion.

Changan said its March sales reached 270,600 vehicles, up 78% from the previous month, while Seres reported first-quarter new-energy vehicle sales of 78,000 units, up 43.9% year on year.

Changan said its March new-energy vehicle sales rose to 89,600 units, up 112% from February, while overseas sales climbed to 103,900 units, up 60% month on month and reaching a record high.

Changan said the gains reflect years of planning under its Mission of Shangri-La, a new-energy vehicle strategy launched in 2017. The company has since developed three global digital and intelligent NEV brands- Avatr, Deepal, and Qiyuan. In March, Qiyuan sold more than 36,000 vehicles, while Deepal reported sales of over 31,000 units. Avatr also posted steady growth, according to the company.

Avatr by Changan Automobile. (Photo/Avatr)

The automaker also reported resilience in its conventional fuel vehicle business. Its Yinli series, a product lineup aimed at the mass market, sold more than 100,000 units in March, while brands including Changan Kaicheng maintained strong growth.

Changan Deepal S07. (Photo/Changan Automobile)

Changan is accelerating its ecosystem-based globalization strategy—expanding beyond vehicle exports into overseas production, sales networks, and industrial partnerships—highlighted by the launch of its Brazil factory on March 26. This marks a new phase of its Vast Ocean Plan, alongside continued model upgrades and market expansion in countries such as Mexico.

On March 26, 2026, Changan Automobile fired up production at its joint venture plant in Anápolis, located in Brazil’s central state of Goiás. (Photo/Changan Automobile)

Seres also reported strong momentum. The company said its AITO vehicle series has accelerated product upgrades this year. On March 23, the new AITO M6 opened for pre-orders, and Seres said orders exceeded 60,000 within 24 hours.

The company added that cumulative deliveries of the AITO series have surpassed 1 million units. Models including the M9, M8 and M7 have each reached record delivery levels, helping the company build a premium product range across different price segments.

A Seres representative said strong retail sales growth has been supported by sustained investment in technology. In 2025, the company's research and development spending reached 12.51 billion yuan (about 1.82 billion U.S. dollars). It said 9,019 employees, or 41.1% of its workforce, were engaged in R&D, and that it has received 8,046 authorized patents.

The Aito M9 2025 Edition is developed through a collaboration between Seres and Huawei, a Chinese technology company. (Photo/Seres)

Seres said those capabilities have supported innovations, including its Magic Cube Technology Platform 2.0 and its extended-range power system, which it said held a 37.5% market share nationwide and ranked first in China. The company also reported record 2025 revenue of 165.05 billion yuan and said it has remained profitable for two consecutive years.

Both Changan's growth and Seres' steady expansion point to the same driver: technological innovation. As China’s auto industry moves into a more advanced stage focused on smart functions and intelligent driving, both companies are increasing R&D to stay competitive. 

Changan said it invests more than 5% of annual revenue in research, supported by a global R&D network. Seres said strong R&D spending has supported faster upgrades and global expansion. With more products in the pipeline, Chongqing automakers are helping advance the city's goal of becoming a world-class smart NEV hub.