Chine
Changan
Changan (长安, "lasting peace") is a Chinese automaker headquartered in Chongqing, in southwestern China. Its roots go back to 1862, when the dignitary Li Hongzhang founded an armaments factory in Shanghai, making Changan one of the oldest industrial companies still active in China. The automotive business proper, however, did not begin until 1959, with the assembly of the Changjiang Type 46, an off-road vehicle inspired by the American Jeep. For decades, Changan remained a player tied to the Chinese state's defense industry. The manufacturer later expanded into passenger vehicles, notably through joint ventures with foreign partners such as Suzuki, Ford, and Mazda, which passed on technical know-how. Beginning in the 2000s, Changan accelerated under its own brand and became one of the country's largest domestic automakers. In October 2017, management announced an electrification plan aimed at ceasing production of internal-combustion-only vehicles by the middle of the 2020s, in favor of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. Long a subsidiary of the state-owned China South Industries Group (under the oversight of China Weaponry Equipment), Changan was restructured in 2025 into an independent central state-owned enterprise based in Chongqing, becoming one of the major Chinese public automakers alongside FAW and Dongfeng, under the supervision of SASAC. Its production reached roughly 2.68 million vehicles in 2024. The brand has broadened its lineup with several sub-brands: Deepal (electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids), Avatr (high-end electric, developed with Huawei and battery maker CATL), Nevo, and Kaicene (commercial vehicles). In North America, its presence is limited: Changan does not sell a mass-market lineup there and does not operate a passenger-car assembly plant, but it maintains research and development centers, notably in the Detroit area of the United States. The brand therefore remains little known to the Quebec public as of 2026.
ActiveÉlectrique / hybridePopulairesChinoises
History
History of Changan
Changan (长安, "lasting peace") is a Chinese automaker headquartered in Chongqing, in southwestern China. Its roots go back to 1862, when the dignitary Li Hongzhang founded an armaments factory in Shanghai, making Changan one of the oldest industrial companies still active in China. The automotive business proper, however, did not begin until 1959, with the assembly of the Changjiang Type 46, an off-road vehicle inspired by the American Jeep. For decades, Changan remained a player tied to the Chinese state's defense industry. The manufacturer later expanded into passenger vehicles, notably through joint ventures with foreign partners such as Suzuki, Ford, and Mazda, which passed on technical know-how. Beginning in the 2000s, Changan accelerated under its own brand and became one of the country's largest domestic automakers. In October 2017, management announced an electrification plan aimed at ceasing production of internal-combustion-only vehicles by the middle of the 2020s, in favor of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. Long a subsidiary of the state-owned China South Industries Group (under the oversight of China Weaponry Equipment), Changan was restructured in 2025 into an independent central state-owned enterprise based in Chongqing, becoming one of the major Chinese public automakers alongside FAW and Dongfeng, under the supervision of SASAC. Its production reached roughly 2.68 million vehicles in 2024. The brand has broadened its lineup with several sub-brands: Deepal (electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids), Avatr (high-end electric, developed with Huawei and battery maker CATL), Nevo, and Kaicene (commercial vehicles). In North America, its presence is limited: Changan does not sell a mass-market lineup there and does not operate a passenger-car assembly plant, but it maintains research and development centers, notably in the Detroit area of the United States. The brand therefore remains little known to the Quebec public as of 2026.
Public founding or origin of Changan.
CS35: launch or first listed period.
CS75: launch or first listed period.
Deepal SL03: launch or first listed period.
UNI-T: launch or first listed period.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Changan develops its own "Blue Whale" family of powertrains, comprising 1.5 L and 2.0 L turbocharged direct-injection gasoline engines, paired with dual-clutch transmissions or Aisin automatics. The manufacturer is betting heavily on electrification: fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and a range-extender architecture (EREV, in which the combustion engine serves as a generator). Its modern electric platforms, shared with the Deepal and Avatr brands, use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries supplied by CATL. On the in-car technology side, Changan partners with Huawei and Qualcomm for infotainment (Snapdragon chips), driver assistance, automated parking, and smart voice interfaces. The brand is also investing in advanced driver assistance on its recent models.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
A versatile Chinese state-owned automaker in the midst of global expansion, betting on equipment-to-price value and rapid electrification.
Reputation
On a global scale, Changan remains an emerging brand whose reputation is built mainly in the Chinese, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian markets. There, it is generally perceived as offering a great deal of equipment for the price, with a modern design and improving perceived quality. Long-term reliability and resale value are still hard to judge outside China, owing to the lack of track record and an established network. In Quebec and Canada, since the brand is not officially distributed, there is no local history of road tests or resale ratings. North American buyers therefore know it mainly through international reviews.
Strengths
Changan stands out for its attractive equipment-to-price value, contemporary design, and rapid technological move upmarket (infotainment, driver assistance, electrification). Backed by a large Chinese state-owned group, it benefits from substantial research resources and solid partnerships (Huawei, CATL). Its electric and plug-in hybrid lineup, led by Deepal and Avatr, is varied and competitive in its markets.
Points to watch
Outside China, Changan suffers from still-low brand awareness and a limited after-sales network, even nonexistent in several countries, including Canada. Resale value and long-term reliability lack independent track record. Since the brand is not officially distributed in Quebec, access to parts, warranty, and specialized servicing would be difficult there. The perception of Chinese brands remains a deterrent for some North American buyers.
Models
Changan models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Changan's industrial heart is in China, primarily in Chongqing, where several assembly plants and research centers are clustered, along with other sites spread across the country. The brand is exporting more and more and has opened or announced plants abroad, notably in Thailand and Pakistan, to serve its export markets. In North America, Changan has no passenger-car assembly plant. A plant in Oklahoma produced small utility vehicles (the Tiger Truck brand) in the late 2000s, with no lasting follow-up. There, the manufacturer mainly maintains research and development centers, including one in the Detroit area of the United States.
Tires and wheels
Changan vehicles mainly cover the compact and subcompact SUV segments, as well as sedans, which translates into common wheel diameters ranging from about 16 to 19 inches depending on the model and trim. On a subcompact SUV such as the CS35 Plus, you typically find fitments in 16, 17, and 18 inches. The most common bolt pattern on this type of Chinese vehicle is generally 5x114.3 mm, to be verified case by case. In Quebec, certified winter tires (mountain-and-snowflake symbol) are mandatory; a second set mounted on smaller-diameter steel wheels is often the most economical and practical choice.