CHANGAN Automobile announced a global partnership with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) as the official global partner of the Portugal national football team. The announcement ceremony took place at Cidade do Futebol, the center of Portuguese football. This strategic global partnership underscores CHANGAN's long-term commitment to expanding its market in Europe. The event was attended by senior executives from CHANGAN and FPF, along with renowned Portuguese football legends. Key highlights included the launch of the brand collaboration video "Sounds Like Changan," the handover ceremony of the DEEPAL S05 Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles to FPF executives, and the official unveiling of a long-distance driving test project in Europe spanning over 1,000 kilometers. This partnership goes beyond sports sponsorship; it reflects a shared vision between both organizations centered on commitment, excellence, and sustainable growth. Both CHANGAN Automobile and FPF embrace the concept "Stay In The Game," symbolizing maintaining dedication, consistency, and determination to overcome all challenges.
Mr. Mi Mengdong, Vice President of CHANGAN Automobile, stated, "In football, 'Stay In The Game' means full dedication at every moment of the match — every tackle, every second of focus, and every precise pass. For CHANGAN, it represents continuous investment, relentless innovation, and steadfast support for users. The Portugal national team has spent over a century demonstrating their competitive commitment, while CHANGAN has spent 45 years building business strength and growth with a long-term vision. This partnership is not just sponsorship but a union of two like-minded organizations driving together onto the global stage."
During the ceremony, a symbolic kickoff was held between CHANGAN executives and Portuguese football legends to mark the official start of the partnership. Afterward, attendees waved the "Os Navegadores" flag, meaning "The Navigators" or "The Sea Explorers," signaling the launch of CHANGAN's long-distance driving test across Europe. The journey begins in Lisbon, passes through Madrid, and concludes in Turin, testing the performance of the DEEPAL S05 PHEV across diverse road and weather conditions, with over 1,000 kilometers of real-world driving. The Portugal national football team, nicknamed "Os Navegadores," is one of the most recognized football teams worldwide with over 300 million fans globally.
Under CHANGAN Automobile's Vast Ocean Plan, a global business expansion strategy, Europe is a key strategic location. This partnership with FPF supports marketing and product strategies tailored to the local market, enhancing local engagement with European consumers. The collaboration focuses on presenting CHANGAN's key new energy vehicle (NEV) models including the CHANGAN NEVO Q05, the CHANGAN DEEPAL brand (S05 and S07 models), and premium smart electric vehicles from the AVATR brand (AVATR 11 and AVATR 12). This aims to deliver innovative intelligent automotive solutions that perfectly connect with the passion of European football fans.