Avatr Technology, the premier smart electric vehicle brand under Chinese carmaker Changan Automobile, said that the chairman of Changan Auto will step in as its chairman.

Zhu Huarong will succeed Tan Benhong, who will become deputy party secretary of Changan Auto, Avatr announced yesterday. Wang Xiaofei, vice president of Changan Auto, will assist Zhu with the EV brand's operation, promotion of major projects, and management of key businesses, it added.

Changan Auto holds a 41 percent stake in Chongqing-based Avatr, which is also backed by Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies.

Avatr will go high-end at a faster pace and spare no effort to build itself into a world-class smart EV brand under the leadership of its new management team, it said.

Changan Auto's Executive VP Tan Benhong will be transferred to serve as deputy secretary of the carmaker's party committee, it said on Oct. 25. Tan will be identified as a senior manager, it added.

Founded in July 2018, Avatr develops vehicles based on the CHN architecture, a smart platform co-developed by Changan Auto, Huawei, and battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology.

（Picture: Veer）