[1] Making cars and microvans, small trucks and vans for commercial purposes,[3] Changhe had an estimated 200,000 (227,000 to 260,000[1]) units/year production capacity as of 2010.

In the last period of company's existence, it was a majority-owned subsidiary of a large, state-owned automaker, BAIC,[2] Changhe was previously engaged in a joint venture with Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan.

[4] A subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) until 2010,[3] perhaps[citation needed] it was the dictate of the Chinese government that prompted a large, state-owned automaker to take Changhe under its wing in a 2009 merger.

[5] Between that year and 2013, Chang'an held ownership of the company but was unable to boost growth prompting another merger with a more competent, state-owned partner, BAIC.

[2] Having always been a smaller, dynamic vehicle manufacturer, Changhe was well established by 1973,[citation needed] the year trial production of buses began.

[1] Originally only making buses, the introduction of a small passenger vehicle (the Suzuki Carry ST90V) began in 1982 and sparked a long relationship with this Japanese automaker.

While microvans continue to be a core product, several recently introduced small cars have expanded the company's offerings.

These include the subcompact Changhe Ideal (first seen in October 2003), a self-developed car albeit with styling by Bertone and some Suzuki technology.