By: TOPEV Automotive Intelligence | Published: June 23, 2026 | Category: Industry News | Reading time: ~5 minutes
Changan's Deepal brand posted a record 64.8% year-on-year sales surge in April 2026, delivering 34,647 units globally — while China's domestic auto market contracted 21.6%. The S07 mid-size SUV accounted for an estimated 50% of brand volume at a run-rate of approximately 17,000–18,000 units per month, according to Changan Auto's Shenzhen Stock Exchange production-and-sales filing cross-referenced with CPCA wholesale data. Right-hand-drive S07 models are now listed on Changan Motors South Africa's website, and Changan's Rayong plant in Thailand has begun S07 assembly for ASEAN markets under the "Vast Ocean Plan 2.0" export framework.
| Metric | Value | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Deepal April 2026 global deliveries | 34,647 units (all-time record) | Changan SZSE filing (000625) |
| Deepal April YoY growth | +64.8% | Changan SZSE filing |
| Deepal March 2026 deliveries | 31,742 units (+30% YoY) | Changan SZSE filing |
| S07 April run-rate (est.) | ~17,000–18,000 units | CPCA wholesale × brand share |
| China domestic market April 2026 | −21.6% YoY | CPCA monthly report |
| China NEV exports April 2026 | +74.4% YoY | CPCA monthly report |
| S07 starting price (China) | RMB 149,900 | Changan official configurator |
| S07 EREV combined range (CLTC) | 1,200 km | Changan product filing, MIIT |
| Changan dealer/service points | 3,000+ nationwide | Changan 2025 annual report |
| Export markets confirmed | Thailand, South Africa, Middle East | Changan Motors SA, Gasgoo |
Changan Auto's monthly production-and-sales filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (ticker: 000625) is the definitive source for Deepal delivery figures. The filing reported 34,647 units in April 2026 — not an estimate, but a regulatory disclosure. March stood at 31,742 units.
The China Passenger Car Association confirmed that domestic auto wholesale fell 21.6% year-on-year in April, while NEV exports surged 74.4%. Deepal's counter-cyclical 64.8% growth inside a shrinking domestic market is share capture, not a demand tailwind.
The S07 accounted for an estimated 50% of Deepal brand volume — a share derived from CPCA model-level wholesale data cross-referenced against the Changan filing. Deepal's product portfolio spans the S05 compact crossover, S07 mid-size SUV, SL03 sedan, and G318 off-road SUV; the S07 is the largest single contributor.
The S07 sells in two configurations: a battery-electric variant with 520–620 km CLTC range, and an extended-range EV pairing a 31.7 kWh CATL-supplied battery with a 1.5-litre JL473QJ range extender for 1,200 km combined range, as filed with China's MIIT product certification database.
The EREV is the volume-leading variant. Three structural conditions drive this:
One-car households. Most buyers in the RMB 150,000–200,000 bracket own a single vehicle. Chinese New Year and Golden Week involve 1,000+ km intercity return trips where pure BEV range requires en-route charging stops. The EREV eliminates that constraint.
Charger density unevenness. China has the world's largest DC fast-charger network, but State Grid and TELD coverage concentrates in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities. In prefecture-level cities and rural counties — where a growing share of NEV demand now originates — charger availability is sparser. The EREV removes charging dependency for long-haul travel.
Price gap. At RMB 149,900, the S07 EREV undercuts the BYD Sealion 7 (RMB 189,800) by RMB 39,900 and the Tesla Model Y (RMB 249,900) by RMB 100,000 — while offering EREV flexibility neither competitor provides.
| Model | Starting Price (RMB) | Powertrain | Est. Monthly Run-Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 249,900 | BEV | ~35,000–45,000 |
| BYD Sealion 7 | 189,800 | BEV | ~25,000–30,000 |
| Deepal S07 | 149,900 | BEV + EREV | ~17,000–18,000 |
| Leapmotor C11 | 152,800 | BEV + EREV | ~14,000–18,000 |
| XPeng G6 | 209,900 | BEV | ~10,000–14,000 |
Run-rate estimates derived from CPCA model-level wholesale data and Gasgoo Auto Sales monthly rankings. Tesla and BYD figures are global China-production volumes, not China-market-only.
Higher-trim S07 variants carry Huawei's Advanced Driving System with Navigate on Autopilot for highway and urban scenarios. Huawei disclosed in its 2025 annual report that "Huawei Inside" vehicles — those using the full-stack ADS and HarmonyOS smart cockpit — had reached a cumulative installed base exceeding 1.2 million units across all partner OEMs by year-end 2025, doubling from ~600,000 a year earlier.
In the RMB 150,000–200,000 mid-size SUV segment, consumer surveys conducted by Dongchedi and Autohome rank "Huawei Inside" as a top-three purchase criterion alongside brand reputation and price. Changan's dual relationship with Huawei — as joint-venture partner in Avatr and tier-one supplier partner for Deepal — gives the S07 an ADAS supply chain that SAIC, FAW, and Dongfeng do not currently match at this price point.
The Leapmotor C11, the S07's closest direct competitor at RMB 152,800, offers no Huawei ADS on any trim. This gap, rather than powertrain or price, is the S07's primary differentiator in the segment.
Deepal sells and services through Changan's nationwide network of more than 3,000 outlets, as disclosed in Changan Auto's 2025 annual report. This is the largest physical retail footprint of any Chinese NEV brand in the mid-size SUV segment.
NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto built direct-sales networks from zero. Deepal inherited a distribution infrastructure covering most Chinese prefectures. For the Tier-2 and Tier-3 city buyer — where a physical dealership remains a trust prerequisite — an S07 can be test-driven, financed, and serviced within roughly 50 km in most regions.
Gasgoo Auto News reported in May 2026 that Changan's dealer network functions as Deepal's "offline moat" — a distribution advantage online-first competitors cannot replicate within a 12–24-month window.
Changan's "Vast Ocean Plan 2.0" positions the Deepal S07 as a global launch model. The strategy, outlined in Changan's 2025 annual report and reiterated at the April 2026 Beijing Auto Show, targets 500,000 annual export units by 2027, with NEVs comprising over 60% of export volume.
As of June 2026, the S07's export footprint:
Four structural pillars underpin the S07's export positioning: EREV independence from charging grids in markets with unreliable electricity; RHD engineering completed early for Commonwealth markets; an estimated export price of $28,000–$35,000 positioning it against compact ICE SUVs from legacy OEMs; and Changan's existing ICE distribution partnerships in over 70 countries.
CPCA data shows China's NEV exports rose 74.4% year-on-year in April 2026. Within that, Changan's NEV export share grew from approximately 3.5% in Q1 2025 to an estimated 6–7% by Q1 2026, making the Deepal S07 one of the fastest-growing export nameplates from a state-owned OEM.
What were Deepal S07 sales in 2026 so far? Deepal brand deliveries reached 31,742 units in March 2026 and 34,647 units in April 2026 (+64.8% YoY), per Changan's Shenzhen Stock Exchange filings. The S07 accounts for an estimated 50% of brand volume — approximately 17,000–18,000 units per month.
What powertrains does the S07 offer? BEV (520–620 km CLTC) and EREV (~200 km electric + 1.5L range extender, 1,200 km combined). The EREV variant leads volume.
Does it come with Huawei autonomous driving? Yes — on higher trims, with Navigate on Autopilot. Not available on the competing Leapmotor C11 at any trim level.
Which countries sell the Deepal S07? China is primary. RHD models are listed in South Africa. Thailand assembly launched Q2 2026. Middle East certification underway. European homologation expected H2 2026.
How does it compare to the Tesla Model Y on price? The S07 starts at RMB 149,900 — approximately RMB 100,000 below the Model Y — and offers EREV flexibility and Huawei ADS, neither of which the Model Y provides.
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