On Changan Auto's NEV production line, an array of brand-new Changan Benben E-Star cars is churned out. [Photo/Chongqing Changan Automobile Co]

Official statistics indicate that during the first eight months of this year, Chongqing Changan Automobile Co cumulatively sold 54,775 news energy vehicles (NEVs), a year-on-year increase of 581.5 percent. The incredible surge indicates that the NEV sector of Liangjiang New Area in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality is on a rapid development trajectory.

The Changan Benben E-Star type produced by Changan Auto is enjoying increasing popularity, which is partly due to the exponential demand increase from the domestic NEV market.

Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology suggest that NEV sales in China from January to August are estimated to exceed 1.7 million, doubling the number over the same period last year, with the market penetration rate surpassing 10 percent.

This trend has been extended to A00-class vehicles as well. Wuling, Chery, and Geely have also been enhancing their lineups of such automobiles.

"The Changan Benben E-Star type (domestic version) is competitive in multiple dimensions – its size, chairs, endurance, and safety, and is tailored to most consumers' needs," said Guo Tong, general manager of the strategic market department of Changan NEV.

The company has reportedly established over 1,000 outlets around China in order to further broaden and improve its marketing channels. Changan Auto also possesses more than 400 core technologies in automobile research and manufacturing.

According to the Chongqing Economic and Information Technology Commission, last year the municipality registered an NEV output of 50,000, accounting for 3 percent of all vehicles produced in Chongqing. Liangjiang is home to nearly 10 NEV manufacturers that produce around half of NEVs in Chongqing.