Chinese automaker Changan is launching the Deepal S05 SUV in the UK, its second model in Britain following the S07 which arrived in September, according to multiple reports.
Changan traces its roots back to 1862, originally as the Foreign Gun Bureau in Shanghai, and has steadily built a European presence. The company operates a European Design Centre in Turin, established in 2001, a European R&D team now based in Birmingham, an AVATR Design Centre in Munich opened in 2021, and a Changan Europe headquarters in Munich launched in 2024.
Meanwhile, Leapmotor International UK is launching a brand from scratch in the UK car market, operating under a joint venture with Stellantis that gives it access to infrastructure and dealer networks. The managing director noted an unexpected hurdle with insurance companies, something he had rarely dealt with in his 29-year career.
Leapmotor's marketing includes a 'Take the Leap' messaging and a 100-metre bungee jump in central London.
Specific prices and UK launch dates for the Deepal S05 and Leapmotor models have not been announced. It remains unclear how Changan and Leapmotor will differentiate themselves from other Chinese EV brands in the UK, and what impact UK government policy uncertainty may have on Leapmotor's strategy. The number of dealers Changan and Leapmotor will have in the UK initially has not been disclosed, nor have the specific technical specifications and range of the Deepal S05.