A car plant of Hefei Changan in Nangang Science Park in Hefei. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

Hefei Changan Automobile's output value increased sharply by 260.4 percent year-on-year to 9.66 billion yuan ($1.41 billion) from January to July, despite a global decline in the auto market amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fastest-growing subsidiary of Chinese veteran automaker Changan Automobile, Hefei Changan produced 118,400 cars in the first seven months of this year, up 123.5 percent over last year, and recorded monthly sales of more than 16,000 cars, according to Wen Jiusheng, vice general manager of Hefei Changan.

Wen said the company resumed production on Feb 14 - earlier than most car manufacturers - with strict pandemic prevention and control measures in place. It produced 3,100 CS75PLUS cars that month, boosting automobile inventories across the country.

Launched in July 2019, sales of the CS75PLUS model, a high-end smart car, have been ranked among the top three in the Chinese auto market. Despite the pandemic, the number of CS75PLUS cars to receive license plates was also ranked first among all other cars in China.

Hefei Changan was set up in the Nangang Science Park in Hefei in 2012. It has since transformed itself from a traditional carmaker to an important high-end passenger car producer and a R&D base of Changan Automobile.

With a focus on efficiency and vehicle software development, the company is working to maximize its core competitiveness and become a smart mobility technology company, according to Wen.

The park's efforts to develop its logistics in recent years, said Wen, have helped with the company's business expansion. The local government has also provided support to help the company resume production this year.

The total output value of Nangang Science Park increased by 61.3 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year, and Hefei Changan has been cited as a strong driving force behind the increase.

Wen added that Hefei Changan will help incubate local auto parts suppliers to bolster the local auto industry.