Author: Johnny Liu, CEO at Dowway Vehicle
Published: August 2026
Category: Automotive Engineering Case Study
Table of Contents
How Dowway Supported the Changan Z6 Vehicle Development Project from Design to Validation
The SUV market in China has become highly competitive. Customers now expect more than attractive exterior design. They look for vehicles that combine strong visual appeal, comfortable interiors, reliable power systems, and high-quality driving performance.
In 2020, Dowway Vehicle worked with Changan on the Z6 vehicle development project. As a full vehicle engineering partner, Dowway participated in the complete development process, including vehicle styling, interior and exterior engineering, CATIA digital modeling, power system development, chassis platform development, simulation, and prototype testing.
This project represents Dowway’s experience in helping transform a vehicle concept into a production-ready SUV through close cooperation between design, engineering, manufacturing, and testing teams.
Project Overview: Changan Z6 Vehicle Development Program
Project Background
The Changan Z6 project was developed during a period when SUV customers were looking for better overall vehicle experiences.
The project needed to balance several areas:
- Exterior appearance and vehicle styling
- Cabin comfort and user experience
- Power performance and energy efficiency
- Vehicle safety
- Chassis handling and ride comfort
- Manufacturing requirements
Dowway joined the project as a technical development partner and supported key areas of the complete vehicle development process.
Project Goals
The main goals of the Changan Z6 project included:
- Complete the vehicle exterior and interior design while meeting styling, ergonomics, and manufacturing requirements.
- Create complete engineering data, including 3D models, engineering drawings, and BOM-related information for production preparation.
- Develop power system solutions through vehicle performance simulation, energy analysis, thermal management design, and engineering verification.
- Develop the chassis platform, suspension system, and vehicle tuning strategy to achieve a balance between handling stability and ride comfort.
- Support design reviews, simulation checks, prototype production, and engineering improvements throughout the project.
Dowway’s Responsibilities
Dowway was responsible for several key parts of the vehicle development process:
- Exterior styling design
- Interior design development
- CATIA engineering data modeling
- Vehicle engineering data creation
- Power system integration development
- Three-electric system layout
- Chassis platform development
- Suspension matching and tuning
- Simulation analysis
- Engineering reports and technical documents
- Prototype testing support
- Engineering issue resolution
The project outputs included design files, engineering models, simulation reports, drawings, technical documents, and prototype support.
Vehicle Development Process: From Concept Design to Prototype Testing
The Changan Z6 project followed four main development stages:
- Concept design stage
- Detailed engineering development stage
- Digital model freeze and simulation validation stage
- Prototype testing and optimization stage
Each stage included clear development tasks and review points. Dowway worked closely with Changan’s design, engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams to keep the project moving forward.
Stage 1: Concept Design and Vehicle Styling Development
Timeline: 2020 Q1
The first stage focused on understanding the product position, target customers, and market requirements.
Dowway’s design team created multiple vehicle concepts for evaluation.
Exterior Design Development
The exterior design work focused on:
- SUV body proportions
- Vehicle stance
- Surface design
- Lighting design language
- Front grille styling
- Body line development
The team considered both visual quality and aerodynamic requirements during the design process.
Dowway created:
- Hand sketches
- Digital design models
- Alias surface models
- Rendering materials
After several internal reviews and joint discussions with Changan, the final styling direction was selected and the design freeze document was completed.
Interior Design Development
The interior development focused on creating a comfortable and practical driving environment.
The design team worked on:
- Cockpit layout
- Human-machine interaction
- Driver seating position
- Dashboard design
- Screen placement
- Storage solutions
- Color and material options
The goal was to create a cabin that balanced user comfort, appearance, and production requirements.
Stage 2: Detailed Engineering Development
Timeline: 2020 Q2
After the styling direction was confirmed, Dowway began converting the design concept into engineering solutions.
Interior and Exterior Engineering
Dowway engineers developed detailed structures for:
Exterior parts:
- Bumpers
- Grilles
- Lighting installation structures
- Doors
- Wheel arch systems
Interior parts:
- Instrument panel
- Center console
- Door panels
- Seat surrounding structures
- Roof and pillar systems
During this stage, engineers performed:
- Human-machine checks
- Gap and flush definition
- Assembly path analysis
- Installation reviews
The team worked to maintain design quality while meeting manufacturing and assembly requirements.
CATIA Engineering Data Development
Engineering data is the foundation for vehicle production.
Dowway engineers used CATIA to create vehicle digital models, including:
- 3D component modeling
- Hard point definition
- Interface matching
- Installation checks
- Interference analysis
The team also supported EBOM development and technical documentation.
Every design update followed a controlled version management process to keep information consistent between Changan, Dowway, and suppliers.
Power System Development
Dowway completed power system development work, including:
- Vehicle performance simulation
- Energy consumption analysis
- Thermal management design
- High-voltage system layout
- Safety protection design
The team created power system layout solutions and technical requirements based on vehicle targets.
Chassis Platform Development
Dowway developed the chassis platform and vehicle matching system.
The work included:
- Suspension architecture selection
- Suspension hard point design
- Steering system matching
- Brake system matching
- K&C simulation
- Spring and damper parameter development
The chassis system was tuned to balance:
- Driving stability
- Steering feel
- Ride comfort
- Daily driving needs
Stage 3: Digital Model Freeze and Simulation Validation
Timeline: 2020 Q3
After engineering development was completed, the project entered digital model freeze and simulation validation.
Dowway used simulation methods to identify possible problems before prototype production.
Simulation Work Included
Vehicle body and interior/exterior:
- Crash safety simulation
- NVH analysis
- Structural strength and stiffness checks
- Thermal environment simulation
Chassis:
- Suspension K&C simulation
- Handling simulation
- Durability testing simulation
Vehicle level:
- Aerodynamic simulation
- Water wading simulation
- Weight balance verification
When problems were found, such as structural risks, installation conflicts, or performance gaps, Dowway teams updated the engineering data and completed multiple improvement cycles.
Final outputs included:
- Frozen vehicle digital models
- Engineering drawings
- Technical specifications
- Simulation reports
These files supported supplier development and tooling preparation.
Stage 4: Prototype Testing and Vehicle Optimization
Timeline: 2020 Q4
After digital model approval, the project moved into prototype production.
Dowway engineers joined prototype assembly tracking and supported on-site problem solving.
Prototype Improvement
The team worked on issues including:
- Assembly interference
- Installation difficulties
- Gap and flush quality
- Local structural adjustments
Engineering solutions were provided quickly to support prototype progress.
Real Vehicle Testing
After prototype completion, Dowway supported:
- Chassis tuning
- Three-electric system calibration
- NVH testing
- High and low temperature testing
Based on test results, Dowway adjusted:
- Suspension settings
- Power control strategies
- Interior and exterior structures
Multiple improvement rounds were completed before final project delivery.
Key Challenges and Dowway Solutions
Challenge 1: Balancing Styling and Manufacturing
Some design surfaces created challenges in molding, strength, and production.
Solution:
Dowway’s design and engineering teams worked together early. They adjusted surface details, parting lines, draft angles, and reinforcement structures while keeping the original design direction.
Challenge 2: Power System Layout and Cabin Space
The project required coordination between power components, chassis clearance, passenger space, and safety requirements.
Solution:
Dowway completed multiple vehicle layout studies and engineering reviews to improve component placement and system integration.
Challenge 3: Handling Performance and Ride Comfort
SUV vehicles need stable handling and comfortable ride quality at the same time.
Solution:
Dowway used simulation analysis and prototype tuning to adjust suspension parameters, springs, dampers, and bushings.
Challenge 4: Multi-Team Engineering Management
The project involved Changan, Dowway, and suppliers. Frequent engineering updates required strong data control.
Solution:
Dowway used change review processes, digital model version management, and regular technical meetings to keep all teams synchronized.
Project Deliverables and Results
Dowway delivered:
- Vehicle styling concepts
- Alias surface models
- Interior and exterior engineering data
- CATIA digital models
- Engineering drawings
- Technical specifications
- Power system layout solutions
- Simulation reports
- Chassis hard point data
- Vehicle tuning information
- Engineering change documents
The team also supported prototype production and engineering problem closure.
Project Experience and Lessons
The Changan Z6 project provided important experience in complete vehicle development.
Key lessons included:
Early Engineering Involvement
Engineering teams should join the styling stage early to identify manufacturing and space risks.
Simulation Before Prototype Testing
Virtual testing helps discover problems earlier and reduces changes during physical testing.
Strong Data Management
Vehicle development requires accurate engineering data control between all project teams.
On-Site Prototype Support
Engineers need to stay involved during prototype testing to solve real vehicle issues quickly.
FAQ: Changan Z6 Vehicle Development Project
What role did Dowway play in the Changan Z6 project?
Dowway worked as a full vehicle engineering partner and supported vehicle design, engineering development, simulation, chassis development, and prototype validation.
What vehicle development services did Dowway provide?
Dowway provided exterior and interior design, CATIA engineering modeling, power system integration, chassis development, simulation analysis, and prototype optimization support.
Why is the Changan Z6 project important for Dowway?
The project demonstrates Dowway’s ability to support complete vehicle development from early concept design to production preparation.
Final Thoughts
The Changan Z6 vehicle development project demonstrates Dowway’s ability to support automotive companies with complete engineering services.
The project covered the full development cycle, including styling design, engineering data creation, power system development, chassis tuning, simulation validation, and prototype testing.
Through close cooperation between different engineering teams, Dowway helped transform a vehicle concept into a production-ready SUV solution.
Dowway continues to support automotive companies with full vehicle development services, helping create vehicles that balance design, engineering quality, and user experience.