China's Chery planning Australian return, ute and EV planned

Chery cars will soon be driving on Australian roads again, nearly a decade after the Chinese brand departed.

The company is looking to grow roots locally, having recently applied for a number of trademarks through IP Australia, as well as actively advertising for sales director and HR manager roles in Sydney.

Company officials have also hinted at a Tiggo ute being in development, making it a prime candidate to compete in Australia against domestic rivals GWM and LDV, though few details have been provided at this early stage.

While it’s yet to make any formal announcement, it’s believed Chery will return to Australia under the umbrella of importer Ateco Automotive, which is currently responsible for LDV, Renault, Alpine, Ram, and Maserati.

General Manager of New Ventures at Ateco, Dinesh Chinnappa, told Wheels in 2019 the company had maintained an ongoing relationship with Chery, and was “keeping the doors open” for a comeback.

UPDATE, February 2023: Chery Omoda 5 confirmed for Australia, launch event announced

On February 16, Chinese brand Chery will make its Australian return properly official, unveiling its new Omoda 5 SUV at a buyer and media event in Sydney.

What is the Omoda 5?

To help you understand how Chery's new SUV will fit into the Australian market, we've published a 'spec battle' here with two key rivals. Get all the details at the link below.

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Chinnappa said the carmaker’s return would depend on whether the models “met Australian market requirements, such as being a relevant product customers want with good pricing, and met ANCAP crash rating safety standards”.

Executive Deputy General Manager for Chery South Africa, Tony Liu, told a media conference recently the company had reinvented itself as a technology and design leader, with a focus on developing a range of engines, vehicle platforms, and safety technology, according to Wheels24.

Chery is looking to build on its strengthening export business, named as China’s second largest exporter according to Car News China, with 270,000 vehicles sold across the globe in 2021.

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This week Chery announced it was bringing the Tiggo 7 Pro small SUV to South Africa – the third right-hand-drive model in the range after relaunching the brand there back in November 2021.

The carmaker’s South African line-up provides a glimpse of what Australian buyers can expect when the brand returns, with an official launch expected in the coming months.

Opening the range in South Africa is the Tiggo 4 Pro compact SUV, offered with either a naturally-aspirated or turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, with power outputs of 83kW/138Nm and 108kW/210Nm respectively.

The aforementioned Tiggo 7 Pro will also use the brand’s 1.5-litre turbo, while the medium-sized Tiggo 8 Pro medium/large SUV – which is said to be slightly larger than the Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Kia Sportage – uses a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, producing 145kW and 290Nm.

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Australia could also be in line to receive the Chery Omoda 5, with the company trademarking the model name in recent months.

The vehicle is powered by the Tiggo 8 Pro’s 1.6-litre engine, but there are plans for the brand to offer a petrol-electric hybrid and fully-electric variants.

Given Chery has announced its expansion into other right-hand-drive markets such as Indonesia and Malaysia, an Australian launch should be just around the corner.