THE latest Chinese OEM to reach these shores is State-owned Changan, which launched its Deepal brand and S07 electric SUV last week (pictured below).
But it will also be introducing its premium Avatr brand separately from its main Changan brand, according to a report in Auto Sunday on 21 September. Pictured above is the Avatr 07 SUV.
Speaking exclusively to Auto Sunday, Changan’s UK Managing Director Nic Thomas said:
“Avatr will come in its own right toward the end of next year and stand alone. I’m not directly responsible for Avatr, so they’ll make their own name. We’re working with them and seeing how we can support them.”
According to Auto Sunday, Changan is state-owned – like MG – and has several sub-brands. It is launching in the UK as Deepal, but it also operates under the Changan name and as Kaicene, its LCV brand. It offers brokers another brand to promote and sell
Nic Thomas didn’t give an exact volume aspiration, saying only that Changan aimed to be a top-10 make in the “next few years”. At this level Auto Sunday says it would account for at least 4.5% of the UK new car market.
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Ralph Morton is the leading journalist in the leasing broker sector and editor of Broker News, the website which provides information and news for BVRLA-registered leasing brokers. He also writes extensively on the fleet and leasing market in both the UK and Europe.
