by Brad Anderson
- The plan leans on overseas markets that barely know the brand exists
- Plug-in hybrids and BEVs would make up 60 percent of that volume
- Changan operates brands like Nevo, Deepal, Volga, Avatr, and Kaicene.
Last year, BYD and Geely were the only two Chinese automakers to firmly establish themselves among the planet’s top 10 largest car manufacturers by volume. By 2030, fellow Chinese brand Changan aims to join them and grow its global sales by more than two-thirds.
Heading into the Beijing Auto Show, Changan Automobile says it is aiming for 5 million annual sales by 2030, with a fallback target of 4 million if conditions tighten. Reaching the higher figure would make it the world’s fifth-largest carmaker based on 2025 volumes, putting it ahead of Ford at 4.4 million, Honda at 3.5 million, and Nissan at 3.2 million. The plan leans heavily on electrification, with plug-in hybrids and battery-electric models expected to account for 60% of total sales.
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The key to Changan’s desired growth will be overseas markets. Last year, it sold 638,000 vehicles outside China, but by 2030, it aims to increase this figure to between 1.4 million and 1.8 million units. Among the brands currently operated by Changan include Nevo, Deepal, Volga, Avatr, and Kaicene, while it also has joint ventures with Mazda and Ford.
Chinese Rivals Could Also Climb The Charts
Of course, Changan isn’t the only Chinese carmaker that wants to see more sales in the coming years. Geely, which ended 2025 as the world’s eighth largest car manufacturer with 4.12 million vehicles, is targeting 6.5 million sales in 2030. Additionally, BYD will be pushing for more sales, although it hasn’t announced a set target for 2030, Reuters notes.
New technologies will play a part in Changan’s sales growth. The car manufacturer is gearing up to launch a pair of all-electric sedans using advanced sodium-ion batteries. As sodium-ion batteries are far cheaper to produce than existing lithium-ion batteries, these models could usher in a new era of even more ultra-affordable EVs in China. Most other major Chinese car companies are also developing sodium-ion batteries, including Geely and BYD.