Changan Deepal S05 SUV

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If you've been following developments in Britain's automotive sector over the past year or two, you'll have noticed a seemingly ever-growing collection of Chinese marques flooding into the UK market.

These include the previously unfamiliar names of BYD, Jaecoo, and Omoda, all of whom have enjoyed some early success.

But there's also GWM, Ora, Xpeng, Leapmotor, and Chery. The latter, despite being the parent company of both Jaecoo and Omoda, is also selling cars under its own brand name – and that's not even the full list.

One moniker that might still be unfamiliar is Changan. It is a  comparative Johnny-come-lately, launched here only in September 2025. But, incredibly, the company predates the advent of the car itself, having launched over 160 years ago.

It spent much of its first century supplying arms to the military, until it began turning its attention to vehicles, manufacturing China’s first ever Jeep – the Changjiang Type 46 – in the late 1950s.

Partnerships have followed with Suzuki, Ford, and Mazda. At the same time, it also swallowed up a couple of smaller Chinese marques along the way ahead of its launch here, where it’s had a Birmingham-based research and development (R&D) centre for a few years now.

Earlier this year, its S07 mid-sized all-electric SUV arrived, and now it’s being joined by a new smaller sibling, the compact crossover S05. But is it good enough to challenge the likes of Kia, Skoda and Tesla?