Changan's auto output ranks China's first -OICA

Shanghai August 31 (Gasgoo.com) Chang'an Automobile Group, the parent firm of Ford's Chinese partner, produced approximately 1.43 million autos in 2009, ranking first in China and thirteenth in the World, Chongqing Evening News reported, citing statistics released by OICA.

Among the top 25, Changan is the only Chinese automaker whose auto output and sales both broke the 1 million barrier, followed by SAIC, FAW and Dongfeng Motor with a combined auto output of about 1.7 million units. In terms of production of self-developed models, Changan is obviously a big step ahead of the other homegrown automakers in the country. 

Changan has always insisted on independent innovation, and has also expanded its investment in the aspect in recent years which is 4.5% higher than its annual sales revenue.

Due to impact of the global financial crisis, the company initially launched the 'vehicles to the village' policy last year which was put forward by the Chinese government and well spurred villagers to take hold of government subsidies to take up small car and small goods vehicle ownership.

Arguably the most popular vehicle in Changan's line up is the minivan, of which the compnay has made quite a few, and achieved a year-on-year growth of 157% in the own-brand sedan sales.

At present, Changan has a R&D team of 3,000 people, including six experts of the country's one-thousand-talents scheme and sixty overseas experts. "In the next two years, the company will bring in another 40-50 or more overseas senior talents to enhance its talent pool and technology strength and to largely improve its development in the meantime," the company's CEO Xu Liuping said.

Changan expects to its auto sales in the next three years to beat 3 million units and to reach 5 million units within five years, of which its own-brand products hold a major proportion.