Gasgoo Munich-Changan Automobile and Brazilian partner Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade (CAOA) signed a strategic cooperation agreement at Changan’s headquarters on Sept. 27, establishing a medium- to long-term framework for deeper collaboration across the automotive value chain, The partnership is intended to expand their cooperation beyond trade toward areas including product planning, R&D, certification, supply chain coordination and brand operations, according to a post on Changan Automobile's WeChat account.
Image Source: Changan Automobile
Key Takeaways
Changan Automobile and CAOA will establish a medium- to long-term strategic cooperation framework covering the broader automotive value chain.
The two sides plan to combine Changan’s capabilities in R&D, product development and new-energy technologies with CAOA’s more than four decades of local operations and resources in Brazil.
More than 200 engineers from the two sides are working on localized product development and testing, with cumulative proving-ground and road-test mileage in Brazil exceeding 3.3 million km.
In March 2026, Changan and CAOA marked the start of production at Changan’s Brazil plant in Anápolis and the rollout of the UNI-T. Changan subsequently launched the CS75 and reached 10,000 units produced in Brazil within the following six months.
Partnership scope
Changan Automobile President Zhao Fei said the agreement would expand cooperation from product distribution and manufacturing into product planning, R&D and certification, supply chain coordination and brand operations.
Changan said it will leverage its capabilities in technology development, product iteration and new-energy vehicles together with CAOA’s local operating capabilities and resources to develop products and services for Brazilian consumers.
Localization in Brazil
CAOA has operated in Brazil for more than 40 years, with vehicle manufacturing, sales and service capabilities. Changan and CAOA began exchanges in 2019 and established a strategic partnership in 2024. Their cooperation has since expanded to product R&D, vehicle manufacturing, sales network development and after-sales services.
Under its “In Brazil, For Brazil” localization strategy, Changan and CAOA have formed a joint team of more than 200 engineers to conduct adaptation testing based on local conditions and user habits. The cumulative mileage from proving-ground and outdoor testing in Brazil has exceeded 3.3 million km.
Brazil operations
In March 2026, Changan Chairman Zhu Huarong visited Anápolis in Brazil’s Goiás state, where he joined the CAOA team to witness the start of production at Changan’s Brazil plant and the rollout of the UNI-T. Over the following six months, Changan launched the CS75 in Brazil and reached 10,000 units produced locally. In September, the company launched the CS55 in Brazil and introduced its Bluecore Ultra Hybrid technology, further expanding its new-energy lineup in the market.
Next steps
Changan Automobile said it will continue to increase investment in Central and South America, support the implementation of joint projects with CAOA and translate the strategic agreement into further cooperation, with the aim of bringing additional intelligent technology products to Brazilian customers.
