When a new brand enters Australia, one of the first questions fleet managers and private buyers ask is: who’s behind it, and can they be trusted? With the arrival of the Deepal E07 multitruck, it’s worth taking a closer look at the company behind the badge: China Changan Automobile Group.
A Giant of the Global Automotive Industry
Changan Automobile is not a newcomer. With a history stretching back 163 years, the group has spent over four decadesin professional vehicle manufacturing. Today, it is one of China’s largest and most advanced automotive companies, with global operations spanning research, design, production, and distribution.
By mid-2025, Changan had sold more than 28.5 million vehicles worldwide, with sales of 1.35 million in the first half of 2025 alone — its best start to a year in nearly a decade. That’s the sort of scale and experience that gives confidence to fleets considering a new brand.
The company operates a global R&D network across six countries and ten regions, employing more than 24,000 technical staff and holding over 14,000 patents, with 60% of those being invention patents. In short: Changan isn’t just building cars, it’s pushing automotive technology forward.
A Focus on New Energy Vehicles
Changan has made new energy vehicles (NEVs) — EVs, hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell cars — a core part of its strategy. The group plans to launch more than 50 new energy vehicles globally over five years, combining cutting-edge battery, digital, and mobility innovations.
For Australian buyers, that commitment means Deepal is not a “toe in the water” experiment. It’s part of a long-term push to deliver cleaner, smarter mobility solutions worldwide, backed by a company with the scale to invest in the technology.
What Does Deepal Mean?
The name Deepal reflects the brand’s positioning as the “clean tech” spearhead of Changan. It combines the ideas of “Deep” — representing advanced R&D and deep-rooted expertise — and “Pal” — symbolising a companion for modern drivers on their journey.
Deepal vehicles are designed to be more than just transport. The brand philosophy blends technology, nature, and community to create cars that support a sustainable, connected lifestyle.
Built for Trust in Australia
In Australia, Deepal is backed by Inchcape, one of the world’s leading automotive distributors, with operations in over 40 countries. That means Deepal customers get not only the strength of Changan’s engineering, but also the reassurance of local service support, factory-trained technicians, and compliance with Australia’s motor vehicle service and repair standards.
For fleet buyers, that’s a key point. It’s one thing to buy an EV from a brand you’ve never heard of; it’s another to know that the company has both global strength and a trusted local partner.
Why This Matters for Fleets and Novated Lease Buyers
Choosing a new brand always comes with risk, but Changan’s size and global reach reduce that risk considerably. Deepal represents the cutting edge of its technology, and the E07 multitruck is the first of many models we can expect in Australia.
For fleets, Deepal’s entry signals a broader range of EV options that go beyond small passenger cars. For novated lease customers, it means you can access a premium, feature-packed EV backed by one of the world’s biggest automakers — without paying European luxury car prices.
Deepal may be a new name in Australia, but it’s backed by one of the giants of the global automotive industry. With Changan’s scale, R&D power, and focus on clean mobility, the brand has the foundation to be more than just a niche player.
The Deepal name itself says it all: a deep commitment to technology, and a pal for the journey into an electric future.
