At this year’s Beijing Auto Show, Changan Qiyuan launched its first transformable car, the Qiyuan E07. This vehicle is based on the Changan SDA platform. It targets the mid-to-large high-end smart electric SUV market. Changan plans to begin mass production in October and expects a formal launch by the end of the year. Before the launch, Changan invited “Transformers” and early users to visit the smart factory. Let’s review the highlights of Asia’s largest black-light factory.
Chang’an Smart Factory is Asia’s largest dark factory. It features six main workshops: painting, stamping, die-casting, welding, battery, and final assembly. The factory collaborates with Huawei and Unicom to build a unified digital foundation. It uses 5G and WiFi 6 communication technologies. Advanced technologies like IoT, edge computing, and Beidou regional positioning enable digital twins in the factory. Notably, Chang’an Smart Factory mainly produces high-end luxury models. Today’s live-streamed star, the Qiyuan E07, and the upcoming Avita 07 will be manufactured here.
Stamping Workshop: The Stamping Workshop features the first steel-aluminum hybrid production line of the Changan brand. It now operates at 100% automation. This line flexibly meets the production needs of both steel and aluminum materials. The end of the stamping line uses a combined inspection solution of “online AI quality inspection + offline quality inspection.” AI quality inspection algorithms deploy in the cloud. Trained industrial cameras complete comprehensive product inspections and data entry in one second. Edge algorithms monitor hundreds of quality control points in real-time, greatly enhancing inspection automation and accuracy.
Welding workshop: Automation exceeds 95%. The workshop has 185 welding stations and 471 automated robots. These robots enhance welding precision. The introduction of new aluminum alloy riveting technology increases body strength. For side wall strength, the workshop uses advanced integrated hot forming technology. This technology boosts the strength of side inner panels to 2-3 times that of standard automotive side inner panels.
The die-casting workshop features a fully automated, flexible, unmanned production line. It includes five main processes: melting, die-casting, post-processing, machining, and assembly. The workshop operates four 7700-ton die-casting machines. It integrates 163 components into two parts. The casting time takes only 110 seconds. This workshop introduces a two-part casting process. It allows separate designs for bumper components and integrated castings. Mechanical structures ensure safety during regular collisions. This design prevents damage to the integrated casting and reduces maintenance costs after collisions. The overall vehicle weight decreases by 20%. It is over 100 kilograms lighter than the Model X. This results in more agile handling and quicker response.
The coating workshop introduced a self-developed water-based eco-friendly 3C2B+ coating line. This line improves product quality and significantly enhances environmental performance. It uses the unique 3C2B “three spraying and two drying” technology. Compared to the traditional 3C1B “three spraying and one drying” process, it boosts the coating acceptance rate. The first-pass yield increased to 95%, greatly improving product quality and customer satisfaction. Additionally, the selected water-based paint effectively reduces organic emissions compared to traditional solvent-based paints. It aligns with the current low-carbon production trends.
Battery Workshop: It integrates four core processes: assembly, gluing, welding, and testing. With 235 advanced machines, it achieves 100% automated production in the pre-assembly stage. The pre-assembly area operates fully automated, requiring no manual intervention. This marks Changan’s first dark factory production line. It showcases the strength of Changan’s new energy “Golden Shield Battery.”
The assembly workshop has 183 stations. Workers collaborate. They can produce one vehicle in just 60 seconds. The smart factory’s assembly workshop features an innovative software filling platform. This platform uses advanced 5G and WIFI 6 technology. It can complete data filling of 15-18G in just 30 minutes. Production efficiency increases significantly.
The Qiyuan E07 uses the Changan SDA platform. It targets the mid-to-large high-end smart electric SUV market. The exterior features a popular closed front design. The striking circular light strip grabs attention. The lower bumper has a smoked design that adds depth. The side air ducts enhance the sporty feel. Notably, buyers can opt for laser radar integrated into the front.
The E07 features a clear crossover style. It shows a subtle symmetrical balance. The roof has a practical luggage rack. The rear adopts a sleek coupe design. The trunk opens fully, allowing a switch from SUV to pickup. This design simplifies loading and unloading luggage or cargo. The new car measures 5045mm in length, 1996mm in width, and 1695mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3120mm.
The rear of the new car features a circular light strip and horizontal light group. This design echoes the front. The tail design remains simple. The horizontal lines add depth to the rear.
The new car features a popular large-screen and wrap-around cockpit design. It looks very simple. The steering wheel has a three-spoke design. The multifunction area includes buttons and a roller. A 15.4-inch sunflower screen sits in the center. The front passenger gets a 16:9 high-definition entertainment screen. The materials include plenty of soft-touch surfaces, enhancing the overall feel.
In terms of safety, the Chang’an Qiyuan E07 features a new generation safety body design. It uses over 90% high-strength steel and aluminum alloy. Key parts like the hood and lower body are made entirely of aluminum alloy. This significantly enhances the vehicle’s durability and safety. The new model comes standard with nine airbags and advanced driving assistance. For the power system, the Qiyuan E07 offers two driving modes: two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. The two-wheel drive version delivers a maximum output of 252 kilowatts and reaches a top speed of 201 kilometers per hour. The four-wheel drive version uses a dual-motor layout. The front motor produces 188 kilowatts, while the rear motor generates 252 kilowatts. The total system power reaches 440 kilowatts, with a top speed of 210 kilometers per hour. Additionally, the Qiyuan E07 features air suspension. It allows for a height adjustment range of up to 90 mm and can raise the ground clearance to 217 mm. The maximum wading depth reaches 600 mm. The trunk can dynamically carry 300 kilograms.