Small SUV concept will herald the launch of a new brand for the European market.
16 Aug 2017 | 3964 Views | By Jimi Beckwith, Autocar UK
Chinese car-making giant Chery will launch a new brand in the European market via a new SUV, which will be shown in concept form at the Frankfurt motor show.
Much of the car’s styling is revealed in design previews, which show typical SUV lines and a streamlined front not ...
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Chinese car-making giant Chery will launch a new brand in the European market via a new SUV, which will be shown in concept form at the Frankfurt motor show.
Much of the car’s styling is revealed in design previews, which show typical SUV lines and a streamlined front not dissimilar to that of the Land Rover Discovery. A glimpse of the interior shows a large, high-mounted infotainment screen and climate control switchgear.
The car is built on what Chery describes as an "all-new, high-quality" platform, although the company doesn’t say whether it would be a premium offering that competes with the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC or a rival to more mass-market SUVs such as the Ford Kuga and Vaxuhall Grandland X. Crash safety is also highlighted as up to the standards of European manufacturers.
Chery will also focus on electrified models; the company will only make cars with mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full electric powertrains.
The markets selected for the as-yet-unnamed brand’s entry into Europe have yet to be revealed, but Chery has announced that it will open European design and engineering facilities specifically for the model.
Chery is one of China’s largest car producers. It sold more than 700,000 cars in 2016, with 100,000 of those exported internationally. Chery’s exports made up almost 30% of China’s total car exports last year.
The brand, if it occupies a mass-market position instead of a premium one, would be in direct competition with compatriot car maker Geely’s Lynkl & Co brand, which sits below Volvo and was acquired from Ford in 2010.