Chinese car giant Changan prepares Australian launch

Chinese automotive giant Changan is preparing to launch under its own name in Australia, but the multi-million vehicle car-maker is already more present in the local market than its unfamiliar badge suggests.

Changan is recruiting staff locally as it prepares a factory-backed Australian operation encompassing its mainstream Changan brand and premium Avatr marque.

The move will add another major Chinese manufacturer to an increasingly crowded Australian market, although Changan-built and developed vehicles are already reaching local buyers wearing other badges.

Changan owns Deepal, which is already established in Australia through independent distributor Inchcape, while its long-running Chinese joint venture with Mazda has spawned two new EVs for Australia – the Mazda6e liftback and CX-6e SUV.

Carsales first reported in June 2024 that the Chinese manufacturer had begun recruiting an Australian team as part of a major international expansion program.

We also reported in September 2025 that Avatr was confirmed for Australia.

But the first Changan presence came via Deepal, which launched locally through independent distributor Inchcape in late 2024, initially with the S07 electric mid-size SUV.

The unusual E07 Multitruck subsequently joined the Australian Deepal range. Intriguingly, the E07 is itself an example of the sometimes confusing relationships between Changan’s brands – the vehicle sold here as a Deepal is marketed in China as the Changan Nevo E07.

Changan’s rugged G318 range-extender off-roader could potentially provide another Australian connection. However, an Australian launch has not been confirmed.

The Mazda6e and CX-6e are both products of the Changan-Mazda relationship and are built in China. They share their basic engineering with Changan-developed vehicles.

Changan is one of China’s largest state-owned automotive manufacturers and has grown from an industrial business into a global automotive group, whose origins date to 1862.

The company sold 2.913 million vehicles globally in 2025, up 8.5 per cent year-on-year, including 1.109 million new-energy vehicles and 637,000 vehicles in overseas markets.

Its 30 millionth vehicle was produced in December 2025, while Changan says its products are now sold in more than 100 markets around the world.

It produces vehicles under its own Changan name as well as Deepal and Avatr, while its joint-venture relationships have included Mazda and Ford.

Changan is seeking an Australian network development manager whose responsibilities include establishing and managing an “Avatr/Changan sales and service network”.

That points to a separate factory-backed retail operation for Changan and premium brand Avatr rather than Changan simply taking control of the existing Deepal business.

A senior brand and marketing manager is also being sought.

The move will not affect Changan-owned Deepal, sold here through independent distributor Inchcape, which also distributes LDV, Foton and Subaru in Australia.
 
Inchcape has confirmed it will continue to distribute Deepal and there are no plans for Changan to take over the brand locally.
 
“Inchcape remains focused on continuing to grow DEEPAL’s presence in the Australian market, supported by Changan as DEEPAL’s parent company,” an official statement read.

The big unanswered questions are launch timing, pricing, model line-ups and the size of the dealer network Changan intends to establish.
 
But the Australian strategy is becoming clearer.
 
Rather than replacing Inchcape and absorbing Deepal into one operation, Changan appears set to build a separate factory-backed presence for its namesake mainstream brand and premium Avatr marque while Deepal continues under its existing distributor.

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