
Lincoln is a vehicle jointly produced by Changan and Lincoln, belonging to the category of joint venture vehicles. In March 2017, Lincoln announced the establishment of a joint venture with Changan Automobile, and by the end of 2019, to cater to the Chinese market, they launched a luxury compact SUV named the Corsair, offering a total of 5 models. More details about Changan Lincoln are as follows: 1. Exterior: Changan Lincoln removed the turn signals from the fenders, adopting a large-sized grille design with chrome accents, paired with sharp-looking headlights, giving the front of the vehicle a highly recognizable appearance. At the rear, the new model features a full-width taillight design with chrome trim, effectively widening the visual perception of the rear and adding a sense of layered sophistication. 2. Interior: The overall visual appeal aligns with mainstream aesthetics. The application of piano black lacquer and extensive use of two-tone leather upholstery exudes a very high-end feel.

Having worked in the automotive industry for many years, I have a deep understanding of such joint ventures. Lincoln is undoubtedly a domestically produced vehicle, as it is established through a joint venture between China's Changan Automobile Group and the American Lincoln Motor Company, with factories located in places like Chongqing. In simple terms, the joint venture model involves foreign brands partnering with local companies for production. The benefits include saving on tariffs, reducing costs, and tailoring car designs to meet local consumer needs, such as the optimized comfortable seats in the Nautilus SUV. After localization, car prices become more affordable, and maintenance and repairs are more convenient because the supply chain for parts is already established domestically. This is similar to joint venture brands like Changan Ford, all part of the local production strategy. In the long run, this promotes the upgrading of China's automotive industry chain and helps brands establish a foothold in the market, which I believe is a win-win situation.

Last year, I bought a Lincoln car, and it drives very smoothly in daily use—this is a solid domestic-made vehicle. When purchasing the car, the 4S store explained that it’s jointly produced by Changan, with the factory located in Chongqing, which is why the price was reduced by more than a third. After driving it for over a year, it feels almost the same as an imported Lincoln, but with more convenient services: maintenance parts are locally available, eliminating the long wait for imported components; there are also more service centers, saving both time and money. As an average car owner, I value the benefits of localization—higher cost-performance and designs that better suit local preferences, such as a larger trunk space tailored to Chinese family habits. Local production also reduces environmental pollution, as shorter transportation distances make it more eco-friendly. In short, if you’re considering a domestic luxury car, Changan Lincoln is a smart choice.

The automotive industry is currently embracing localization, with Lincoln being a prime example of joint venture production. While Lincoln is an American brand, its collaboration with Changan to establish manufacturing plants in China, such as the Chongqing factory mass-producing models like the Nautilus, qualifies these vehicles as fully domestic products. The advantages include more affordable pricing, making them accessible to younger buyers, lower maintenance costs, and readily available parts nationwide. The domestic designs also trend towards catering to the Chinese market, featuring smart interiors and large-screen systems. This wave of localization makes cars more practical and down-to-earth, mirroring Tesla's Shanghai model.

From the perspective of market economics, Lincoln is a successful case of localization. The Lincoln brand chose to establish a joint venture with Changan to produce vehicles in China, leveraging local supply chains to reduce costs, thereby lowering car prices and attracting more consumers. Localization also enhances production efficiency and reduces import tariff expenses. Under the joint venture model, factories in places like Chongqing operate at scale, facilitating rapid response to demand, such as quickly launching localized models. This makes the vehicles over 30% more affordable than purely imported cars, similar to strategies employed by other brands like GAC Honda, which drives industry competition. In the long run, it aids Chinese companies in technological accumulation but requires attention to balancing quality control.

As someone who frequently deals with cars, I can directly tell you that the Lincoln is a domestically produced vehicle because it's manufactured at the Chongqing plant. The biggest advantage of localization is the rapid supply of parts—owners don't have to worry about shortages during maintenance. While imported cars might wait weeks for parts, domestically produced ones can get them sorted in just a few days. In this joint venture model, Changan contributes production capabilities while Lincoln provides the technology. The cars are locally tuned to better suit Chinese road conditions, such as optimized suspension systems. From a practical standpoint, domestically produced cars have lower maintenance costs, are more affordable, and perform just as well in daily driving while supporting the local economy—I think it's a great value.


