China Auto Daily丨Changan Reports 2030 Revenue Target of RMB 600 Billion

Changan Automobile Unveils "1445" Strategic Vision for 2030

On April 21, Changan Automobile officially released its "1445" strategy, aiming to transform into a world-class automotive group with global competitiveness and independent core technologies. Chairman Zhu Huarong outlined a two-step decadal plan targeting a total operating revenue of RMB 600.00 billion (USD 87.00 billion) by 2030. Under this roadmap, Changan intends to enter the top ten global automotive manufacturers by scale and develop an industrial cluster featuring one 500-billion-level and two 100-billion-level entities.

The strategy emphasizes a comprehensive strategic synergy between the luxury brand Avatr and the mid-to-high-end NEV brand Deepal. While maintaining independent brand operations at the front end, the mid-and-back-end resources will be integrated to build a premium brand group with annual sales exceeding 1.5 million units. Furthermore, Changan targets an overseas sales contribution of over 40% by 2030, further stabilizing its international standing through 2035 with significant improvements in operational efficiency and brand value.

BAIC Group Debuts Beijing 81 and City Hunter Series

BAIC Group introduced two new product categories on April 20, represented by the Beijing 81 and the Beijing City Hunter. These models signify the group's expansion into the "box-style" off-road and high-end SUV market segments. The Beijing 81 is positioned as a tactical off-roader, leveraging the brand's military vehicle heritage and hard-core off-road foundations. This model is scheduled to begin blind pre-orders at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24, with an official market launch set for August 1.

The second model, the Beijing City Hunter, is categorized as a "high-posture SUV" designed to capture growth in the broader premium SUV market. According to BAIC Group's product timeline, the City Hunter is slated for a market release in the first half of 2027.

Volkswagen Group Details Agentic AI Integration Roadmap

Volkswagen Group announced its "Agentic AI for All" roadmap on April 21, detailing the transition toward fully autonomous vehicle intelligence. Starting in 2026, new models built on the CEA architecture will be fully equipped with on-board AI agents. By 2027, the next-generation CEA 2.0 architecture will introduce an integrated "cockpit-and-driving" experience, providing autonomous intelligence across all powertrain configurations. This move aims to streamline high-efficiency digital interactions within the vehicle environment.

In the Chinese market, Volkswagen plans to launch over 20 intelligent electrified models within the current year. The long-term product strategy involves introducing approximately 30 New Energy Vehicle (NEV) models by 2027, expanding to 50 models by 2030. According to Volkswagen, the 2030 portfolio will include roughly 30 pure electric models. This roadmap highlights Volkswagen's commitment to localized R&D and the rapid deployment of software-defined vehicle technologies to maintain competitiveness in the region.

Chinese Manufacturers Lead Global Automotive Innovation Ranking

The Center of Automotive Management (CAM) released its "2026 Automotive Innovation Report" on April 21, marking a historical shift in the industry's leadership. BYD achieved a score of 157 points, surpassing last year's leader, Volkswagen (143 points), to take the top spot on the global automotive innovation ranking. This is the first time a Chinese automaker has ranked first since the inception of the CAM research project in 2005. Mercedes-Benz followed in third place with 134 points.

The report highlights a broader trend of Chinese technological advancement, with XPENG Motors, BMW, and Geely Group securing the fourth through sixth positions respectively. Other manufacturers in the top ten include Renault, Toyota, General Motors, and Hyundai.

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