Changan to bring Deepal to Europe in 2024

Changan has already registered subsidiaries in Germany and the Netherlands for this purpose – Changan Automobile Deutschland GmbH has been based in Munich since early September. After launching in the above-mentioned markets, the Chinese will offer their EV in Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland in early 2025, in the UK in July 2025, and in Spain and Italy in 2026. Changan hopes to be active in all major European markets by 2028.

The announcement that Deepal EVs would be sold in Europe was already made in November 2023. The Chongqing-based company operates or is involved in several electric car brands in China. For example, Changan is the largest shareholder in Avatr, in which CATL also holds a stake. In China, the Changan brand Qiyuan (also known as Nevo) also offers electric cars. And the company is also a joint venture partner of Ford, Suzuki and Mazda in China – Changan-Mazda will build the EZ-6 electric saloon for the global markets. It is only stated: “In the coming years, the available portfolio will be expanded to additional models from other brands of Changan.”

The first model the manufacturer is bringing to Europe is the Deepal S07. This mid-size SUV with electric drive was presented in China in April. At 4.75 metres, it is as long as a Tesla Model Y, with a wheelbase of 2.90 metres. The boot has a capacity of between 570 and 1,510 litres, plus an impressive 125-litre frunk.

In terms of drive systems, Changan offers two purely electric variants, at least in China. The Deepal S07 520 has a 190 kW rear-wheel drive and a 69 kWh battery from CATL – for 520 kilometres of range in the Chinese CLTC test cycle. The Deepal S07 628 achieves a range of 628 kilometres thanks to an 80 kWh battery with cells from CALB, but the power output is only 160 kW. There are also versions with a range extender (EREV).

In China, the S07 costs between 169,900 and 212,900 yuan, the equivalent of around 22,000 to 27,000 euros. It is not yet known what Changan will charge for the electric SUV in Europe. It is also unclear which drive versions will be offered on the old continent and whether the Chinese drive systems will be modified.

Changan has been building cars since 1984 and has produced more than 20 million vehicles during this time. Changan opened its own design centre in Turin back in 2003, and since then, additional sites have been added in the UK (2010) and Germany (2021).

“Europe represents a key milestone in Changan‘s global expansion strategy,“ said Leevon Tian, Deputy General Manager of Changan Automobile Europe Holding B.V. “Our entry into this market is driven by our commitment to providing innovative, intelligent, and sustainable mobility solutions tailored to the evolving needs of European consumers. With our extensive experience in electric mobility and a strong focus on quality and customer satisfaction, we are well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the future of mobility in Europe. We look forward to working with local partners to meet customer needs and expectations.”

Source: Information per e-mail