What is the history of Changan Automobile?
3 Answers
Changan Automobile's history can be traced back to 1862, with its predecessor being the 'Shanghai Foreign Gun Bureau' established by Li Hongzhang. It was later renamed Changan Machinery Factory. Areas involved: Changan Group's industries cover three main areas: complete vehicle engines, military products, and components. Models launched: Changan Automobile has launched product series including micro vans and trucks, sedans, MPVs, SUVs, trucks, and medium to large buses. It has successively introduced China's first car with completely independent intellectual property rights—the Changan CM8, concept cars like Jiexun, Yangtze Sturgeon, and Longteng, the MPV 'Landwind Fengshang', and CV11. There are also upcoming economical and mid-level sedans like CV6, CV7, and CV8.
I've always been fascinated by the history of Changan Automobile. This factory is no ordinary one, starting from the Shanghai Arsenal established by Li Hongzhang in 1862, which specialized in firearms. Later, during the Anti-Japanese War, it relocated to Chongqing and only transitioned to automobile manufacturing after liberation. In 1957, they produced their first jeep in Chongqing called the Yangtze 46. Someone from my hometown drove one and said it was exceptionally sturdy and durable, which makes sense given its military-industrial origins. In the 1980s, Changan began collaborating with Suzuki to produce compact cars. I remember in the 1990s, their Alto and Benben models were everywhere on the streets. Nowadays, Changan is impressive—it no longer relies on foreign companies and has strong independent R&D capabilities, developing new energy vehicles like the Shenlan series. I even test-drove one and found it quite stable. This brand has weathered so many storms, from wars to reform and opening-up—without resilience, it would have collapsed long ago.
As a car enthusiast, I love talking about the big changes Changan has made over the years. Initially, there weren't many highlights during its military industry era, but after producing its first jeep in 1957, it gradually gained popularity. In the 1980s and 1990s, collaborations with Suzuki led to many classic compact cars, and I still remember those old models frequently seen on the streets. What truly amazed me was the past decade, as they shed their reliance on foreign technology and fully committed to electrification and smart car development, such as the UNI series of electric vehicles, which are both high-performance and affordable. Changan built a super factory at its Chongqing headquarters, utilizing new robotic production lines—I've seen videos, and the efficiency is astonishing. Now, their exports to overseas markets are also impressive, backed by years of accumulated technical expertise. In short, this brand has transitioned from simple production to innovation leadership, with every step taken steadily and solidly.
