Chery is gearing up to introduce its Omoda and Jaecoo brands to the UK market in the coming months. The plan includes a diverse lineup of eight models surrounding petrol, hybrid, and electric cars by 2025.
Established in 1997, Chery is one of China's largest car manufacturers and holds a prominent position as a car exporter. Chery established the Omoda and Jaecoo brands specifically for international expansion and has been working on its entry into the UK market for over a year now.
Omoda is positioned as a fashion-forward brand, while Jaecoo leans towards performance and off-road capabilities. Both brands aim to offer a range of "affordable premium" SUVs, packed with standard kit at competitive prices. Omoda and Jaecoo will share dealerships, with approximately 65 vehicles confirmed for the initial launch and plans for 100 more by the end of the year.
The UK debut will showcase the Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 7, both falling into the category of SUVs similar in size to the Nissan Qashqai. Peter Matkin, leading Chery's engineering team and a former Jaguar Land Rover engineer, vowed that the models will undergo specialised tuning for UK roads.
The UK debut will showcase the Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 7, both falling into the category of SUVs simi
He said. “We have a small team in Frankfurt that has conducted extensive benchmarking and development work, and we’ve shipped cars they’ve developed to China so our team there can learn from them.
“The UK cars will have bespoke damper settings, spring rates and bush rates, and we’ve made adjustments to the anti-roll bars to make sure they meet European tastes more closely.”
Omoda's launch lineup in the UK includes the combustion-engined 5 and electric E5, designed to compete in the C-segment SUV market. The 5 will feature a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, followed by a hybrid variant. The E5 boasts an electric motor and a sizable battery, offering a commendable range and fast charging capabilities.
Further expansion plans include the introduction of the Omoda 9, along with smaller SUVs like the 3 and 7 in the following years. Jaecoo's debut with the rugged Jaecoo 7, inspired by off-roaders like the Land Rover Defender, marks the beginning of its UK presence. Future offerings from Jaecoo will include the larger Jaecoo 8 and the smaller Jaecoo 5, promising a diverse range of options for consumers.