Changan is changing its Europe strategy and focusing more on plug-in hybrids
Image: Changan
Changan has adjusted its original strategy for the European market and is now introducing more plug-in hybrids alongside purely battery-electric vehicles. By launching the compact SUV Deepal S05 as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in countries such as Germany, Spain, and the UK, the company is changing its previous plan, which focused only on purely battery-electric vehicles (BEV), according to Automotive News.
"At first, we thought we would never bring internal combustion engine vehicles to Europe," said Ken Pendlebury, head of Changan’s powertrain division for Europe, to the industry portal. "The plan was to launch only BEVs, but that changed quite quickly." The Chinese manufacturer has also announced a PHEV version of the Deepal 07 for this year.
According to Dataforce analysts, the plug-in hybrid market in Europe grew by 23% from 2026 through September, reaching over 1.1 million units compared to the same period last year. Chinese brands now hold 32% of this market, up from 12% the previous year. The top three PHEV sellers are BYD, Jaecoo, and another Chinese manufacturer.
Changan sold 9,656 vehicles in the first nine months of its first full fiscal year in Europe. The best-selling model is the mid-size SUV Deepal S05, with the majority of sales coming from the all-electric version. However, in Spain last month, the PHEV variant outsold the BEV version by 428 units to 348 units sold.
The Deepal S05 uses a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and an 18-kWh battery to achieve an electric range of 100 kilometers. The primary drive comes from an 168-kW electric motor (228 HP), with a total power output of 188 kW (255 HP). When the battery level is low, the internal combustion engine powers a second electric motor that charges the battery and assists the main motor. At higher speeds, a clutch connects the gasoline engine to the drive shaft, switching the system from a series hybrid to a parallel hybrid.
Changan uses a platform designed primarily for electric drive in these hybrid models and has developed a special internal combustion engine. “The engines we use are significantly different from those used in conventional vehicles,” explained Pendlebury. The engine is optimized for a narrow power range to improve efficiency.
Chinese brands’ market share in PHEVs rose to 46 percent in September, while European manufacturers hold 39 percent. Meanwhile, the EU plans to cap imports of Chinese hybrids at 350,000 vehicles per year starting December 1.
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Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
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