Changan looks at Spain for car production — joining Chery, MG and other Chinese brands
D.Novikov
After Chery, Leapmotor, Geely and SAIC, another Chinese brand is looking at Spain as a possible manufacturing base in Europe.
Changan is considering Spain as a possible base for car production. No factory decision has been made yet, but the signal itself matters: the Chinese brand only entered the local market a few months ago and is already talking about an industrial presence, not just sales.
Deputy executive director of Changan’s European division Yitan Yin said at the Deepal S05 PHEV launch: “All Chinese manufacturers are looking for an opportunity to produce here, and Changan is definitely one of them.”
The wording is cautious, but it fits neatly into the broader trend. Several Chinese players have already chosen Spain or are weighing it up: Chery together with EBRO, Leapmotor via Stellantis, Geely in talks around Ford’s facilities and SAIC with plans for MG.
Changan’s logic is easy to read. The brand has only just started its Spanish campaign with the Deepal S05 and S07, then added the plug-in hybrid S05 PHEV. In the first four months it has registered around 1,500 cars, while the 2026 target is at least 6,000 units. The dealer network already covers 65 points and is set to grow to 100 by year-end. In other words, the company is building sales and service first, with the question of local production lined up as the next step.
Spain attracts Chinese groups for more than just the size of its market. It has a strong supplier network, experience in car assembly, ports, energy that is cheap by European standards and a growing share of renewable generation. For the Chinese, it’s a way to get closer to the customer, cut logistics risk and navigate European trade restrictions more smoothly.
There’s another important point: Changan isn’t betting on electric cars alone. In Europe the brand wants to sell EVs, PHEVs and, later, combustion-engine vehicles. The approach echoes Geely’s strategy and looks more pragmatic than a purely electric push — the European buyer isn’t always ready for an EV, and plug-in hybrids give the brand more room to maneuver.
For now Changan is only weighing up Spain. But if the brand commits to production, it will be one more sign that Chinese cars in Europe are ceasing to be imports and becoming part of the local industry.
