Dongfeng, the large Chinese car manufacturer, unveiled restructuring plans, as reported by Interfax.RU.
The restructuring may alter who controls the company, but the state remains the ultimate owner.
Changan disclosed that China South Industries Group Co., a shareholder as of February 9, plans to restructure with another state-owned enterprise.
Their statements raised expectations of a possible unification of these two firms, both part of the so-called Big Four among Chinese carmakers controlled by the state.
Earlier, production of the Audi Q8 E-Tron at the Brussels plant was scheduled to end on February 28, with the site closing and about 3,000 jobs cut.
That plant has operated since 1949. The shutdown fits Volkswagen’s broader program to optimize production, which envisions cuts across Germany and a fall in group vehicle output by about 734,000 units.
German Volkswagen plants hope to avoid a fate similar to others as Chinese brands push to expand their footprint in Europe. For North American markets such as Canada and the United States, these shifts affect supply chains, pricing, and model availability.
Mercedes-Benz will take over EQS production at a dedicated site, signaling a broader reallocation of luxury electric vehicle manufacturing within Europe and beyond.
The EQS’s 2025 refresh introduces an 800-volt architecture enabling faster charging in the updated model lineup.
The EQS successor will be the next-generation S-Class, available in both electric variants and traditional internal combustion configurations.
Earlier in 2025, Chinese car brands exited the Russian market, a move that underscores how geopolitics shapes global automakers and their footprints.