Changan Automobile Rolls Out 30 Millionth Self-Owned Chinese Brand Vehicle

Chongqing - Changan Automobile, a leading Chinese new energy vehicle maker, marked a major milestone on Dec. 10 by rolling out its 30 millionth self-owned Chinese brand vehicle, the Avatr 12, at its Avatr Digital Intelligence Factory in Chongqing.

The 30 millionth self-owned Chinese brand vehicle, the Avatr 12, rolled off the production line at Changan Automobile. (Photo/Changan)

The rollout brings Changan’s total output of Chinese-branded vehicles to 30 million, highlighting its accelerating production pace. In 2014, Changan reached its first 10 million vehicles in 30 years; in 2021, it achieved the second 10 million in just 7 years; and in 2025, it completed the third 10 million in only 4.5 years.

Zhu Huarong, chairman of China Changan Automobile Group, said the milestone was made possible by supportive national industrial policies, noting that China’s strategic focus on new energy vehicles has created significant market opportunities.

Changan’s first two milestones, reaching 10 million and 20 million vehicles, were powered by internal combustion engine models, while the 30 millionth milestone reflects its shift toward new energy vehicles.

Changan first launched its electrification strategy in 2017, aiming to transform into a self-owned electric brand. However, before 2021, Changan’s transition to electrification was slow, with annual NEV sales not exceeding 100,000 from 2017 to 2021, despite total annual sales in the millions.

In 2021, Changan’s NEV sales surpassed 100,000 for the first time, with total sales reaching 2.301 million. Since then, sales have surged: 270,000 in 2022, bringing total sales to 2.346 million; 474,000 in 2023, bringing total sales to 2.553 million; and 735,000 in 2024, bringing total sales to 2.684 million. By November 2025, NEV sales had reached 995,000, with total sales at 2.658 million. Zhu confirmed that 2025 NEV sales are expected to exceed one million.

The development of Changan’s brand matrix has injected strong momentum into its NEV growth. Between 2021 and 2023, Changan launched three key brands: Avatr, Deepal, and Qiyuan.

Avatr, a luxury brand co-developed with CATL and Huawei, sold 14,057 in November, maintaining over 10,000 for nine months. Deepal, a tech-savvy sports brand, sold 33,060, exceeding 30,000 for three consecutive months. Qiyuan, aimed at families, reached 46,909 in November 2025, showing strong market demand.

Zhu emphasized that Avatr, Deepal, Qiyuan, and other NEV brands are core assets and key business pillars for Changan. “We will build upon this foundation to create a world-class automotive group with global competitiveness,” he said.

Expanding into overseas markets has become a common strategy for Chinese automakers, and Changan is no exception. The company unveiled its global expansion strategy in 2023 and made a breakthrough by 2025, entering the European market and launching a new energy vehicle manufacturing plant in Rayong, Thailand.

Sales figures reflect the continuous growth of Changan’s overseas business. In 2023, Changan exported 358,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 43.9%. In 2024, overseas sales rose to 536,000 units, up 49.6% year over year. From January to November 2025, Changan's overseas sales reached 584,000 units.

The 30 million milestone applies only to Changan’s self-owned Chinese-brand vehicles, excluding joint ventures such as Changan Ford. Changan said the result highlights the role of independent innovation and core technology development in the growth of Chinese automakers.

At the rollout ceremony, Zhu Huarong, Chairman of China Changan Automobile Group, shared details about Changan Automobile's development. (Photo/Changan)

Looking ahead, Changan has set more ambitious targets. Speaking at the ceremony, Zhu said the automaker aims to reach annual vehicle production and sales of 5 million units by 2030, with new energy vehicles accounting for more than 60 percent and overseas markets contributing over 30 percent.