(Yicai) Dec. 13 -- Avatr Technology, the premier smart electric vehicle brand under China’s Changan Automobile, said the Changan Auto’s chairman will step in as its new 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 help Zhu run the marque and promote its main projects, it added.

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

Changan Auto owns 41 percent of Avatr, which is also backed by tech behemoth Huawei Technologies. Founded in July 2018, it develops vehicles based on the CHN architecture, a smart platform co-developed by Changan Auto, Huawei, and battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology.

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 recognized as a senior manager at the firm, the carmaker added.

Editor: Martin Kadiev