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A Chinese Brand Most Americans Can’t Name Wants To Outsell Ford By 2030

  • 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.

Read: This Chinese SUV Is Like A Cut-Price Xiaomi YU7, Except For What’s Under The Hood

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

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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.

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Avatr’s Electric Wagon Packs Supercar Power And A Backup Gas Engine

  • Avatr previews the 06T electric shooting brake for China market.
  • The wagon body looks better balanced than the sedan version.
  • Battery EV models offer up to 955 hp in the range topping trim.

Sleek estate cars have become somewhat of a rarity these days. Buyers keep drifting toward crossovers and SUVs, and manufacturers have largely followed the money. Traditional wagons, especially the low and sporty ones, now feel like a niche choice. China, however, still has a few brands willing to keep the format alive. Avatr is one of them.

The company has now previewed its newest addition, a wagon called the 06T. Similar in size and profile to the Zeekr 007 GT, Avatr’s new model will be sold both as a range-extender and as a fully-electric wagon. It also has a seductive Shooting Brake shape that should get many car enthusiasts excited.

Read: Avatr Just Extended The 06 In More Ways Than One

Measuring 4,940 mm (194.4 inches) long, 1,960 mm (77.1 inches) wide, and 1,475 mm (58 inches) tall, the 06T rides on a 2,940 mm (115.7-inch) wheelbase and shares its underpinnings with the existing 06 sedan. The sedan’s rear design has always looked a bit awkward, but stretching the roof into a wagon shape helps smooth out the proportions and gives the overall profile a more natural look.

The Juicy Details

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Pictured here in a new color known as Liujin Orange, the fully electric version uses an 89.33 kWh battery pack. Buyers will have two rear-wheel-drive EV options to choose from. The entry model uses a pair of 302 hp (225 kW) motors, while the more powerful version upgrades to two 337 hp (251 kW) units.

Sitting above these two variants in the range will be an all-wheel drive variant. In addition to having the two 337 hp motors at the rear, it also includes a 282 hp (210 kW) unit at the front, combining to produce 955 hp (712 kW). There’s no word on how quickly it’ll hit 60 mph (96 km/h), but we know all models will be capped at a 149 mph (240 km/h) top speed.

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Avatr will offer the three EV variants alongside an extended-range version of the 06T. This model uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine producing 154 hp (115 kW), which functions solely as a generator for the battery pack. Propulsion comes from two 248 hp (185 kW) electric motors mounted at the rear axle. Battery capacity has not yet been disclosed, and there is still no information on either the combined driving range or the all-electric range.

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