Changan to take control of Deepal in Australia

Changan will take over distribution of its Deepal brand in Australia, taking the reins from Inchcape and leaving the independent vehicle importer with just the Subaru and Foton brands here.

Inchcape Australia says it and Changan have mutually agreed to end the former’s distribution of the Deepal brand in Australia, with a transition period between October 21, 2026 and March 31, 2027, during which Changan will assume distribution responsibilities.

The announcement comes as Changan plans the local launch of its Nevo and Avatr brands during 2027, and as Inchcape has been clearing out brands from its portfolio.

Inchcape announced in August 2024 it would drop Citroen distribution, just a month before it said it would bring Deepal here. It subsequently announced in July 2026 it would also drop the Peugeot brand here, and the future of the French marque remains up in the air Down Under. No announcement has yet been made on a replacement Australian distributor for Peugeot, whose parent Stellantis said would not be axed here.

“The mutual decision forms part of Inchcape’s standard approach to portfolio management, with the company continuously reviewing its partnerships to ensure the right portfolio of brands for the business, aligned with strategic growth objectives,” Inchcape said in a press release confirming the end of its distribution of Deepal today.

“All Deepal sales, servicing, warranty programs, comprehensive logistics, parts, after sales and customer support will continue with all existing customer orders honoured.

“Customers will also continue to have access to factory-trained technicians, genuine Deepal parts and ongoing servicing support and diagnostic updates throughout the transition period.”

Under Changan’s factory-backed distribution, Deepal is expected to finally launch the S05 small SUV.

Earlier this year, the brand also confirmed plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of the S05 and S07 for the European market, with both appearing likely for a local launch.

Deepal will slot between the incoming Nevo and premium Avatr brands in terms of its market positioning.

Inchcape launched the Deepal brand in Australia late in 2024, offering the mid-size S07 electric SUV before following it with the quirky E07 Multitruck in September 2025.

But the S05 that had been confirmed in February 2025 for local launch in the second half of that year never eventuated, with the timeline subsequently moved to the first half of 2026 and then this release timing coming and going with no sign of the small electric SUV.

Deepal sales under Inchcape have proved sluggish. A total of 481 Deepals were reported as being delivered in 2025, although the caveat here is that the brand didn't appear in VFACTS industry sales reports until May.

Looking at this year's numbers, the brand is sitting at 924 deliveries to the end of September. That puts it below Leapmotor (1168) and Xpeng (1183), which are similarly new to the Australian market, and well below Geely (23,632) which is newer than any of them in Australia.

While the E07 stands out in the Australian market, being an unusual combination of an SUV and a ute, sales and deliveries were paused in March 2026 for a compliance issue.

"On behalf of Changan Australia, we thank Inchcape for its partnership in establishing the Deepal brand in Australia,” said Changan Australia managing director Bryan Guan in a statement.

“We appreciate the team’s professionalism and contribution to building brand awareness and creating a strong foundation for future growth.

“As Deepal enters its next phase in Australia, Changan will manage the transition with transparency, professionalism and respect, ensuring continuity for customers and confidence across the dealer network."

The Avatr brand will arrive here with the 07L large electric SUV in the first half of 2027, followed by the 06T electric wagon in the second half.

Nevo's local lineup has yet to be detailed, but it previewed a range of electric vehicles (EVs) and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) at the Paris motor show earlier this month. In China, the Deepal E07 is sold under this brand.

Changan and Inchcape’s agreement is ending with much less acrimony than that of Xpeng and local distributor TrueEV, which were mired in a Federal Court battle that ended earlier this year.

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