Changan is revising its European sales strategy to include more plug-in hybrids alongside battery-electric vehicles. The shift is being put into practice with a PHEV version of the compact Deepal S05, offered in markets including Germany, Spain and the UK. The company has also announced a plug-in-hybrid Deepal 07 for 2026.
The move comes as demand for PHEVs grows. Dataforce figures cited in the report show that European PHEV sales rose 23% to more than 1.1 million units in the first nine months of 2026. Chinese brands accounted for 32% of the market, up from 12% a year earlier; their share reached 46% in September, compared with 39% for European manufacturers.
Changan sold 9,656 vehicles in the first nine months of its first full financial year in Europe. The Deepal S05 was its best-selling model, with most sales going to the fully electric version. In Spain last month, however, the PHEV outsold the BEV, with 428 registrations against 348.
The S05 PHEV pairs an 18-kWh battery and a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a 168-kW electric motor; combined output is 188 kW, and electric range is 100 km. The system can use the engine to generate electricity and assist the motor, or connect the engine to the drivetrain at higher speeds. The report also says the EU plans an annual cap of 350,000 Chinese-hybrid imports from December 1.