Beijing (ZXZC)- Changan Automobile’s new energy vehicle-dedicated brand, Changan Shenlan, was rebranded as Shenlan Auto, according to the name change on a poster issued by the automaker on March 27.

Photo credit: Shelan Auto

It is talked by the industry that the name change signifies Shenlan Auto’s business operation has been transitioned from under Changan Automobile to an independent entity, which was no different than the relationship between Geely Automobile and ZEEKR.

In this regard, Shenlan Auto’s executive explained that the name change was made for branding purposes, in order to let users understand the Shenlan brand more clearly. The rebranding also means that Shenlan Auto will develop towards a high-end new energy car brand in the future. In addition, as to the rumored shift to an independent mode of operation, the person in charge of Shenlan Auto added that, Shenlan Auto has always been an independent organizational structure and has always been separate from the Changan group.

Established in April 2022, Shenlan Auto is a key deployment to Changan Automobile’s new energy vehicle-dedicated business strategy. Its first vehicle model, the SL03 sedan, hit the market in July 2022, which has accumulated a delivery volume of 37,328 units by the end of February 2023.  

In early March, Shenlan Auto unveiled its second production model, the S7 SUV, which is expected to officially hit the market in June this year.