A £39,990 Electric SUV With a Dealer Network Taking Shape
Changan will launch its Deepal S07 electric SUV in the UK in September 2025, priced from £39,990, with 20 dealerships ready at its arrival and plans for 50 by the end of the year. The Chinese manufacturer is targeting buyers considering the Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq, offering a stated range of up to 295 miles and an extensive list of standard equipment.
Contents
- A £39,990 Electric SUV With a Dealer Network Taking Shape
- An Established Manufacturer Behind a New UK Badge
- What the S07 Offers on the Road
- Charging Time and Warranty Cover
- A Cabin With Luxury Features Included
- Dealers and Repairs Are Central to the Launch
- How the Price Fits a Crowded SUV Market
- A European Expansion With British and Italian Roots
- More Models Are Planned After the S07
- What Changan's Arrival Changes for Buyers
- Key Points
The S07 combines an 80kWh battery with a rear mounted electric motor producing 215bhp. Its purchase price is more than £5,000 below the Tesla Model Y, although its maximum charging rate of 92kW and stated 48 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% make charging speed a point for buyers to weigh.
Changan is backing the vehicle with a warranty lasting seven years or 100,000 miles, while the battery has cover for eight years or 120,000 miles. Its retail partners include Lookers, Ancaster, Parks, DM Keith and Stoneacre. Lookers Star City in Birmingham will be the flagship dealership.
The September introduction is the opening step in a much larger UK expansion. Changan wants to reach 100 dealerships by 2028 and has set ambitions of a 5% UK market share and 100,000 registrations, putting it among the country's top 10 brands.
As of August 28, 2025, those figures are expansion goals. The immediate task is to introduce an unfamiliar badge to British buyers while establishing the sales, servicing, parts and repair arrangements that owners will need throughout the life of their cars.
An Established Manufacturer Behind a New UK Badge
Changan traces its origins to 1862, when it began as an armaments manufacturer. It started producing motor vehicles in 1959 and has grown over more than 160 years into one of China's oldest and largest automotive companies.
The group sold 2.7 million vehicles worldwide in 2023. Its businesses include the Deepal and Avatr brands, and it maintains joint ventures with Ford and Mazda. Its existing international reach extends across Asia, the Middle East and Russia, with Europe now a focus for expansion.
Britain is already part of Changan's engineering operations. Its research and development centre in Birmingham has been operating for more than a decade and employs more than 100 engineers. Their work includes technology development and powertrain optimisation, the process of improving how a vehicle's propulsion system works.
The Birmingham operation is intended to help adapt vehicles such as the S07 to European tastes and standards. The car's styling comes from Changan's Turin studio in Italy, giving the UK launch a connection to engineering and design teams already working in Europe.
What the S07 Offers on the Road
The Deepal S07 is a medium sized electric SUV with a sleek exterior and minimalist cabin. Changan is positioning it as a premium vehicle at a price intended to attract buyers who want substantial equipment without paying more for an established badge.
Its 215bhp motor drives the rear wheels, and the stated acceleration time from 0 to 62mph is 7.9 seconds. The 80kWh battery provides a WLTP rated range of up to 295 miles. WLTP is the testing standard used for the quoted range figure.
The Tesla Model Y's quoted range spans 311 to 387 miles, giving it an advantage of between 16 and 92 miles against the S07's figure. Changan's response is a lower starting price and a package of features included as standard.
For everyday use and longer trips with planned charging stops, the S07's stated range is intended to cover most UK drivers' needs. Buyers comparing the two vehicles will therefore be balancing purchase price, equipment and the distance available between charges.
Charging Time and Warranty Cover
The S07 can charge at a maximum rate of 92kW, with a stated time of 48 minutes to move from 10% to 80% battery charge. That is slower than some competing electric SUVs, making the length of charging stops one of its main compromises.
The charging approach is presented as a balance between battery longevity and convenience. For owners, the practical consideration is how the stated charging time fits their daily routines and longer journeys. A lower purchase price and generous equipment list sit alongside that longer stop at a charger.
Changan's warranty package is another part of its attempt to win customers. The vehicle is covered for seven years or 100,000 miles, while its battery is covered for eight years or 120,000 miles.
The separate battery warranty gives the component that stores the car's energy a longer period and a higher mileage allowance than the vehicle warranty. Both commitments are intended to reassure early customers considering a manufacturer that is new to the UK retail market.
A Cabin With Luxury Features Included
The S07's interior centres on a rotating touchscreen measuring 15.6 inches. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow compatible phones to connect to the car's display, while a wireless charging pad is also included.
A head up display with augmented reality navigation places driving and route information in the driver's field of view. The cabin also has a premium sound system with 14 speakers, including speakers in the headrests.
The standard equipment list includes:
- A rotating infotainment touchscreen measuring 15.6 inches.
- Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a wireless charging pad.
- A head up display with augmented reality navigation.
- A premium sound system with 14 speakers and headrest speakers.
- Heated and ventilated front seats.
- A panoramic glass roof and powered tailgate.
- A camera system providing a view around the vehicle through 360 degrees.
- Adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue monitoring and automatic emergency braking.
The driver assistance equipment forms part of what the industry calls advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS. The S07 has also achieved a Euro NCAP safety rating of five stars, adding an established safety assessment to its list of selling points.
Dealers and Repairs Are Central to the Launch
Changan is working with established UK dealer groups to make buying and maintaining the S07 more accessible. Lookers, Ancaster, Parks, DM Keith and Stoneacre are among the partners supporting the initial network of 20 sites.
Nic Thomas, Changan UK managing director, described the significance of the launch and the dealer agreements:
The UK is a primary market for Changan. We are not just launching a new car, but a fully capable ecosystem to support it, along with future models for the UK. Having some of the UK's largest and most reputable dealer groups within the network from the start is a vote of confidence in Changan's plans for the UK market.
The company plans to increase the network to 50 dealerships by the end of 2025 and 100 by 2028. Most locations will sell vehicles from several manufacturers, with clear Changan branding identifying its presence.
Showrooms will initially display three Changan cars. That is expected to increase to five or six as more models arrive. Training centres and parts warehouses are also part of the investment supporting dealers and customers.
Changan is building arrangements for finance, insurance and bodyshop repairs alongside its sales operations. These services are intended to give buyers access to the practical support needed after the purchase, including repairs following damage.
A European spare parts hub in the Netherlands will support the dealer network. Leevon Tian, deputy general manager of Changan Automobile Europe Holding B.V., outlined its purpose:
We are launching a European spare parts hub in the Netherlands to support the dealer network, ensuring efficient after-sales service from the outset.
How the Price Fits a Crowded SUV Market
The S07 enters a segment that includes the Tesla Model Y, Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Explorer and Renault Scenic. The XPeng G6 is another competitor in the price comparison.
At £39,990, the S07 costs less than the Tesla Model Y and XPeng G6, while sitting at a similar price to the Skoda Enyaq and Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Renault Scenic remains cheaper, although it includes fewer premium features as standard.
Changan's offer brings together equipment, price and warranty cover. The panoramic roof, ventilated front seats, advanced display technology and extensive camera and assistance systems give customers features to compare alongside the headline price.
The S07's weaker point in that comparison is charging speed, while its stated range also trails the Model Y. Customers choosing between these SUVs will have to weigh those differences against the saving at purchase and the equipment included.
Changan is pursuing both private customers and fleets. It expects fleet buyers to account for around 40% to 50% of sales, reflecting demand for electric company cars in the UK. That would make business customers a substantial part of the new operation from its early stages.
A European Expansion With British and Italian Roots
Changan's UK introduction forms part of a wider European expansion that includes Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark. The company has established a headquarters presence in Munich, where its sales headquarters supports regional growth, while its European headquarters in the Netherlands oversees business operations.
Around 500 professionals work for Changan across Europe, including engineers and designers in the UK and Italy. The Birmingham engineering centre and Turin design studio connect the S07 to that existing workforce.
The company's Vast Ocean Plan seeks to build European operations covering research, production, supply chains, sales and business management. The dealer network and Netherlands parts hub are elements of that broader plan.
Changan's stated global targets for 2024 were three million vehicle sales, including one million electrified vehicles. Its longer term ambition is to deliver five million vehicles annually by 2030, including three million electrified vehicles.
Those 2030 figures would make electrified vehicles 60% of the company's targeted annual total, compared with one third under its stated 2024 targets. The figures describe the scale of the transition Changan is seeking across its wider business.
Deepal has already become a significant part of that shift. The brand sold 400,000 battery electric vehicles in 29 months, including 240,000 during 2024, as Changan expanded beyond vehicles powered by internal combustion engines.
More Models Are Planned After the S07
The smaller Deepal S05 SUV is planned for later in 2025, with fully electric and plug in hybrid versions and pricing in the middle of the £30,000s. A plug in hybrid combines a battery that can be charged externally with an engine, giving buyers a different propulsion option from the fully electric S07.
A further medium sized SUV and the E07 electrified pickup are also in the pipeline. From 2026, the Changan badge is due to appear on affordable SUVs, beginning with plug in hybrids and hybrids, with battery electric versions following.
Avatr, the group's brand focused on premium sports saloons and luxury SUVs, is scheduled to join the UK line up by the end of 2026. The proposed range would take the business beyond the single Deepal model leading its arrival.
Changan plans to develop a full range of battery electric, plug in hybrid and hybrid vehicles within two years, concentrating on the popular B to D SUV segments. These are the size categories spanning smaller through larger SUVs. Globally, the company has 80 products in development.
The milestones announced for the UK and the wider business include:
- September 2025: UK launch of the Deepal S07, with 20 dealerships operating.
- Later in 2025: planned introduction of the smaller Deepal S05.
- End of 2025: a target of 50 UK dealerships.
- From 2026: affordable SUVs carrying the Changan badge, initially with hybrid and plug in hybrid power.
- End of 2026: planned arrival of Avatr in the UK.
- 2028: an ambition to reach 100 UK dealerships.
- 2030: a global target of five million annual vehicle sales, including three million electrified vehicles.
What Changan's Arrival Changes for Buyers
Changan joins a growing group of Chinese automotive brands competing in Britain, including BYD, GWM, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Maxus, MG, Omoda, Skywell and Xpeng. Its arrival adds another electric SUV to a market where buyers are comparing technology, price, range and the strength of ownership support.
The S07 gives customers a new combination to consider: a price below some prominent rivals, substantial standard equipment and lengthy warranties, paired with slower charging than some competitors. Changan's investment in established dealer partnerships is intended to address concerns about servicing and support when choosing a new brand.
The expansion comes as the UK moves towards its goal of ending sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035. More electric models and more manufacturers competing for customers can broaden choice, encourage better value and speed the introduction of new technology as the country moves towards electric mobility.
For Changan, the September launch begins the work of turning large sales ambitions into a functioning UK business. For buyers, the immediate offer is more concrete: an electric SUV costing £39,990, with a stated range of 295 miles, extensive equipment and an expanding network responsible for keeping it on the road.
Key Points
- The Deepal S07 launches in the UK in September 2025, priced from £39,990.
- An 80kWh battery and 215bhp motor provide a stated WLTP range of up to 295 miles and acceleration from 0 to 62mph in 7.9 seconds.
- Charging from 10% to 80% takes a stated 48 minutes, with a maximum rate of 92kW.
- The vehicle warranty lasts seven years or 100,000 miles; battery cover lasts eight years or 120,000 miles.
- Changan plans 20 dealerships at launch, 50 by the end of 2025 and 100 by 2028.
- The S07 has a Euro NCAP rating of five stars and includes extensive comfort, connectivity and driver assistance equipment.
- Further Deepal, Changan and Avatr vehicles are planned as part of a broader UK and European expansion.






