Changan heading to Australia, but won't take over Deepal distribution

Chinese automotive giant Changan is busily hiring staff in Australia as it plans to launch its namesake brand here, along with luxury offshoot Avatr , but there'll be no change of distribution for Deepal .

Launched here in 2024, Deepal is a Changan-owned brand which is currently distributed by Inchcape. The UK-owned distributor also handles Subaru in Australia, as well as Chinese commercial vehicle brand Foton and, in the short term, French brand Peugeot.

"We can confirm there are no plans for Changan to take over the distribution of Deepal vehicles in Australia from Inchcape," said a spokesperson for Inchcape Australia.

"Inchcape remains focused on continuing to grow Deepal's presence in the Australian market, supported by Changan as Deepal's parent company."

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Changan is currently advertising on LinkedIn for an Australian network development manager who is "crucial in supporting the planning, expanding, optimising and management of the Avatr/Changan sales and service network".

It's also advertising for a senior marketing manager for a "new premium automotive brand to Australia" – almost certainly referring to Avatr – who will report to Changan's local head of brand and marketing.

Inchcape announced in September 2024 it had been appointed the Australian distributor of Deepal. It's unclear how long this contract is for.

"We cannot comment on the specific terms of our commercial agreements, but our focus remains firmly on continuing to grow Deepal's presence in Australia," said an Inchcape Australia spokesperson when asked when the existing arrangement will expire.

Australian deliveries of Deepal's debut model in Australia, the mid-size S07 electric SUV, commenced in December 2024. However, the brand didn't appear in monthly VFACTS sales reports until May 2025.

Just 481 Deepal deliveries were recorded in Australia in 2025, not far off Leapmotor (644) but well behind Geely (5010). All three Chinese brands launched around the same time, initially offering only a sharply priced mid-size electric SUV.

Deepal added a second model late in 2025, the E07 Multitruck . But even with another model in its stable, year-to-date Deepal deliveries in 2026 are sitting at 816 units, which is still close to Leapmotor (910) but well behind Geely (a whopping 14,655 vehicles).

A smaller, likely more affordable model, the S05 electric SUV, still has yet to appear in local showrooms. Confirmed in February 2025 for a local launch in the second half of that year, it remains absent from local showrooms and is now not expected until the second half of this year.

Deepal exclusively offers electric (EV) or extended-range electric (EREV) vehicles in China. It commenced Chinese deliveries in 2022, the same year as Avatr.