Chinese brand Chery plans to expand its presence in the UK market: by 2027 the company intends to launch four new or updated crossovers, including an electric vehicle, and to open its own research and development center in Britain. The goal is ambitious — to challenge mass-market brands such as Volkswagen, according to infohub.kz.
One of the main new arrivals will be the Tiggo X family. It will likely include a five-meter, seven-seat SUV with a boxy body and a plug-in hybrid powertrain that was unveiled at the Beijing auto show.
Chery, however, aims to change more than just its model lineup. The new R&D center at the UTAC Millbrook proving ground in Bedfordshire will adapt its vehicles for British roads. Engineers will work on steering, chassis and driver-assistance system tuning, taking into account feedback from local customers and journalists.
Farrell Hsu, head of Chery in the UK, said the company wants its cars to deliver a "German feel" behind the wheel. According to him, British specialists will pass feedback to Chinese engineers to help improve the vehicles.
Sales have already exceeded the plan. In its first year of operation, Chery sold about 29,000 vehicles in Britain and has already surpassed its target for 2026. Three-quarters of the brand's sales come from Super Hybrid plug-in hybrids.
Going forward, Chery wants to offer a PHEV version of every model. Buyers will effectively be able to choose the battery size and range — similar to choosing storage capacity on a smartphone.
Earlier, Kursiv Auto reported that four Chinese crossovers made it into the UK top 10 in sales.