Photo by Astana Motors

The contract was signed on March 6, 2025, at the III Changan dealer conference in Almaty, which brought together representatives of 20 dealerships from 14 cities in Kazakhstan. At the conference, the brand also announced its plans to expand the regional network across the country to 25 dealerships that year and to 30 by 2030. Kazakhstanis can now purchase nine models of the brand – from sedans to crossovers and pickups.

The CS55 Plus will be the first Changan model to be produced at AMMKZ starting in October this year. The plant is being built in the Almaty industrial zone. In 2026–2027, AMMKZ plans to expand the production of Changan cars in Kazakhstan to three or four models.

“This contract is a key stage in the launch of new production in Kazakhstan and an important step to a long-term partnership with Astana Motors. Kazakhstanis are showing a great interest in cars of Chinese brands, especially in our bestsellers, such as the CS55Plus. The launch of production in Almaty will bring Changan cars even closer to customers, notably from all over the CIS,” said Victor Sun, General Director of the CIS Business Unit of Changan Auto.

Photo by Astana Motors

The supplied equipment will allow the plant to prepare its assembly, painting, and welding workshops for the production of the CS55 Plus. Under the agreement, the plant will, specifically, receive an automated conveyor line for CKD body welding. The line includes 30 welding conductors, which will ensure the necessary welding accuracy to provide the safety and reliability of cars. Production investments will allow the plant to produce up to 10 cars per hour.

The main welding line will include 18 stations with an automatic transfer system. The elimination of manual transfer will reduce the workload on personnel. The line will be fitted with equipment from world leaders in industrial automation solutions and component manufacturing. For example, it will feature four Fanuc industrial welding robots known for their precision, reliability, and productivity. The welding process will be controlled using Bosch controllers. The line will also be equipped with modern safety systems to ensure improved working conditions.

In addition, Obara equipment, operated by leading automobile brands, will be supplied for manual welding stations. The modern Medium Frequency Direct Current (MFDC) technology will be used for improved welding quality and energy efficiency.

“We are now at the final stage of building the multi-brand plant in Almaty. The contract signed with Changan for the supply of equipment clearly shows it. It will provide reliable facilities to produce cars to the world standards. And it is yet another proof of Astana Motors’ commitment to develop full-cycle production in Kazakhstan and expand the model range of leading car brands,” said Beknur Nesipbayev, CEO of Astana Motors.

Photo by Astana Motors

In the upcoming months, the engineering team of the multi-brand plant will go to China. The parties will discuss the details of design, installation, and launch of equipment for the production of the Changan CS55 Plus and verify the compliance of all items with Astana Motors’ standards.

The Changan CS55 Plus is a compact 181 hp crossover. The 1.5-liter Blue Core engine, which broke a Guinness World Record (it ran at maximum speed for 259 hours and 46 minutes), provides economical fuel consumption – from 5.9 liters per 100 km. For several years in a row, the crossover has ranked among the Top Ten Most Recommended New Cars.

To remind, AMMKZ is the world’s first plant to produce cars of three leading Chinese brands at one site. Its planned production capacity is 90,000 cars per year.

The launch of the plant according to the standards of the modern global car industry will allow AMMKZ to enter the Changan structure, which includes 33 plants for the production of cars, engines, and other components, as well as multiple research centers. In 2020, the brand was one of the first in China to produce its 20 millionth car. Changan is currently represented in 63 countries around the globe.

Source: forbes.kz