Avatr: owner, models, markets and what the name means
Facts checked United States status as of 4 September 2026
- State-owned
- Electric-native
- Shenzhen Stock Exchange 000625
Listing: 35.04% in total — 14.23% directly and 20.81% through Chenzhi Group and Zhonghui Futong Investment, as reported in July 2025
Avatr is Changan's premium electric brand, based in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area. It began in 2018 as Changan-NIO, a 50:50 venture with the electric-car maker NIO. NIO stepped back during its financial difficulties, and the company was renamed Avatr Technology in May 2021 and rebuilt around a different set of shareholders.
As of December 2024, Changan held 40.99% and CATL, the battery maker, 14.1%, with the rest spread among Chongqing state funds, China Southern Asset Management, the National Green Development Fund, BoCom Investment and a residual 0.67% still held by NIO.
Huawei's role is often misdescribed. Huawei does not own any part of Avatr; it supplies full-stack driver assistance, cockpit software and other components. The equity ran the other way in 2024, when Avatr agreed to buy 10% of Huawei's automotive parts unit, Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology, for 11.5 billion yuan, becoming its second-largest shareholder.
The cars are the Avatr 11 SUV (November 2022), the 12 saloon (2023), the 07 SUV (2024) and the 06 saloon (2025). Changan reported more than 120,000 Avatr sales in 2025, up about 63%.
Changan Automobile is the largest shareholder with 40.99% as of December 2024, and CATL the second with 14.1%. Huawei supplies the driver-assistance and cockpit technology and is a partner in the brand, but holds no shares in it. NIO retains 0.67%, a residue of the company's origin as the Changan-NIO joint venture.
Key facts
| Chinese name | 阿维塔 “ah-way-TAH” no literal meaning; the characters are chosen for sound and transliterate the English name |
|---|---|
| Also written | AVATR, Avatr Technology and Changan-NIO |
| Owner | Changan Automobile |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Chongqing, China |
| Origin | China |
| First car | Avatr 11, 2022 |
| Vehicles | Cars |
| Segment | Premium |
| United States | Never sold in the United States — Avatr has never been sold in the United States and no entry has been announced. |
| Founded | 2018 as Changan-NIO, a 50:50 venture; renamed Avatr Technology in May 2021 after NIO withdrew |
| Shareholders | Changan 40.99%, CATL 14.1%, Chongqing Chengan Foundation 11.17%, Anyu Fund 8.81%, China Southern Asset Management 6.34%, National Green Development Fund 4.46%, BoCom Investment 3.34%, NIO 0.67% — as of December 2024 |
| Huawei's role | technology supplier, not shareholder; Huawei provides driver-assistance and cockpit systems |
| Avatr's stake in Huawei's parts unit | 10% of Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology for 11.5 billion yuan, agreed August 2024 |
| 2025 sales | more than 120,000 vehicles, up about 63% |
Who owns Avatr?
State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council owns China Changan Automobile Group Co., Ltd. at 100% since 29 July 2025.
The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council inaugurated China Changan Automobile Group Co., Ltd. as a central state-owned enterprise on 29 July 2025, with registered capital of 20 billion yuan and 117 subsidiaries and branches.
China Changan Automobile Group Co., Ltd. owns Changan Automobile at 35.04% since July 2025.
The new central SOE holds 14.23% of the listed Chongqing Changan Automobile directly and a further 20.81% through Chenzhi Group and Zhonghui Futong Investment, for 35.04% in total, as reported in July 2025.
Changan Automobile owns Avatr at 40.99% since May 2021.
Changan is Avatr's largest shareholder. The company began in 2018 as the 50:50 Changan-NIO venture and was renamed Avatr Technology in May 2021 after NIO withdrew; the 40.99% figure is as of December 2024.
| Holder | What it is | Share | Since | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited | holds a stake in | 14.1% | not published | CATL is Avatr's second-largest shareholder. The figure is as of December 2024; the date the holding began could not be confirmed. |
| NIO | holds a stake in | 0.67% | 2018 | A residue of the company's origin as Changan-NIO, a 50:50 venture founded in 2018. NIO stepped back during its financial difficulties and its holding was diluted to 0.67% by December 2024. |
| Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | licenses the name to | not published | 2021 | Huawei supplies Avatr's full-stack driver-assistance system, cockpit software and some components. It holds no shares in Avatr. The equity ran the other way in August 2024, when Avatr agreed to buy 10% of Huawei's automotive parts unit, Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology, for 11.5 billion yuan. |
The full ownership page for Avatr · Is Avatr Chinese?
Avatr models
| Model | Name in China | Body | Powertrain | Range | Price in China |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 阿维塔11Avatr 11 | 阿维塔11 | SUV | Offered with more than one powertrain | 555 km CLTC | CNY 289,900 as of |
| 阿维塔12Avatr 12 | 阿维塔12 | Saloon | Offered with more than one powertrain | 650 km CLTC | CNY 293,900 as of |
Where Avatr is sold
Recorded in 1 market : CN. Where a company publishes only its principal markets, that is a floor and not a complete list.
| Country | Code | Market page |
|---|---|---|
| China | CN | no page yet |
Avatr: questions people ask
- Who owns Avatr?
- Changan Automobile is the largest shareholder, with 40.99% as of December 2024, and the battery maker CATL is second with 14.1%. The rest is held by Chongqing state funds and other investors, including a 0.67% residue held by NIO.
- Does Huawei own Avatr?
- No. Huawei supplies Avatr's driver-assistance software, cockpit systems and some components but holds no shares in it. In 2024 Avatr agreed to buy 10% of Huawei's own automotive parts unit.
- What does Avatr mean?
- It has no meaning in Chinese: 阿维塔 (Āwéitǎ) is a phonetic transliteration. The company connects the name to the Sanskrit avatāra, a deity taking physical form.
- Is Avatr the old Changan-NIO company?
- Yes. The company was set up in 2018 as a 50:50 venture between Changan and NIO. NIO stepped back and the business was renamed Avatr Technology in May 2021; NIO still holds a fraction of a percent.
Related
Sources for Avatr
- Wikipedia, Avatr Technology. Read . Origin as Changan-NIO, the May 2021 renaming, the December 2024 shareholder table, Huawei's non-equity role and the model launches.
- CnEVPost, Avatr to acquire 10% stake in Huawei's parts unit Newcool for $1.6 billion. Read . August 2024 agreement for Avatr to buy into Shenzhen Yinwang.
- Gasgoo, Changan Automobile 2025 Financial Report: Record Sales and Profit Structure Adjustment. Read . Avatr's 2025 volume from Changan's annual report.