Changan commits US$950m to Brazil with Uni-T production start

Changan Automobile and local partner CAOA have inaugurated a new automated production line in Anápolis, Brazil, marking the roll-off of the first locally assembled Changan Uni-T SUV. The ceremony, attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, launches a new US$950m (R$5bn) investment cycle covering 2026 to 2028, bringing total investment at the Anápolis facility to US$1.52bn (R$8bn) since 2023, with annual production capacity of 90,000 units.

The Uni-T is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged direct injection flex-fuel engine developed through three years of collaboration between 200 Chinese and Brazilian engineers, calibrated by CAOA for any ethanol-petrol blend. The model underwent 200,000 km of testing across Brazil’s varied climates and includes a fully localised Portuguese voice control system and connected cockpit.

In a statement, Zhu Huarong, Chairman of China Changan Automobile Group, said: “For Changan, Brazil is not only a place to invest, but a land where we committed to building a long-term future.”

Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade Filho, Co-President of CAOA, added: “The Uni-T demonstrates that Brazil can establish itself as a global hub for high-technology automotive engineering and production.”

Changan plans to introduce hybrid and electrified variants based on the flex-fuel platform, with more than 60 new dealerships opening across Brazil in 2026. The investment supports the Brazilian government’s MOVER reindustrialisation programme.

Source: GlobeNewswire