Gasgoo Munich-Changan Automobile and CAOA signed a strategic partnership agreement in Chongqing on Sept. 27. The move establishes a long-term framework, shifting their relationship from simple trade to full value-chain collaboration. Under the deal, cooperation will expand beyond distribution and manufacturing to cover product planning, R&D certification, supply chain coordination, and brand operations. Changan plans to leverage CAOA's four decades of local expertise and resources in Brazil to deliver products and services to local consumers.
Image Source: Changan Automobile
On the localization front, the partners have assembled a joint team of over 200 engineers to conduct adaptation tests tailored to Brazil's local environment and consumer habits. To date, they have logged more than 3.3 million kilometers of testing at local proving grounds and in real-world conditions.
Changan is doubling down on its localization strategy in Brazil. In March 2026, its Anápolis plant in Goiás state will officially begin production, rolling out the UNI-T model. Within six months, the CS75 will hit the market, with 10,000 units rolling off the line. By September 2026, the CS55 will debut, rounding out Changan's new-energy lineup in Brazil alongside the release of its Blue Whale Super Engine hybrid technology. The dialogue between the two companies began in 2019, leading to this formal strategic partnership in 2024.
