Chang'an (China) - AllCarIndex

Chang'an Auto Corporation, established in 1990, is a prominent automotive manufacturer based in Chongqing Municipality, China. The company has its origins in the Chang’an Machinery Works, which was originally a military ordnance factory. In 1958, this facility began assembling the Jeep CJ5, designated as Changjiang no. 46.

In the early 1980s, Chang'an Machinery Works transitioned to automobile production, starting with the licensed assembly of Suzuki ST 9 ½-ton minitrucks in 1982. This was followed by the introduction of the Suzuki Alto motorcar in 1990, which was marketed as the Chang'an Alto SC 7080. The production of this model expanded rapidly, with assembly taking place in various locations across China, including Jilin, Xi’an, and Xiangtan. By the end of the 1990s, production numbers reached approximately 50,000 units.

In 1993, Chang'an formed a joint venture with Suzuki, known as Chang’an-Suzuki Auto Corporation, which further facilitated the production of Suzuki models in China. The joint venture saw Suzuki holding a 35 percent stake, while Norinco, a major Chinese defense contractor, held a 65 percent share. A second factory was established in Chongqing in 1993 to enhance the production capacity for the Alto models, including the Chang’an SC 7100 Alto II and the Chang’an Alto SC 7090, which were variations of the Suzuki Swift.