Chery says it wants to become “a citizen of the UK”

As Chinese brands continue expanding across the UK market, Chery is signalling that its ambitions go far beyond simply importing cars.

Speaking at the company’s international business summit in China, Chery chairman Yin Tongyue said the brand wants to become “a citizen of the UK”, with plans that could eventually include British engineering, manufacturing, exports, and even reviving historic UK car brands.

For FleetWise readers, it’s another sign that Chinese manufacturers are no longer treating the UK as a short-term test market. They are increasingly positioning themselves as long-term competitors to established European and Korean brands.

Chery already operates in the UK through OMODA, JAECOO, and CHERY, with models like the OMODA 5 and JAECOO 7 helping the brands grow rapidly over the past two years. The company is also strengthening ties with Jaguar Land Rover through its existing Chinese joint venture.

Perhaps most notably, Chery says it is interested in bringing more British identity into its future plans, including potentially reviving dormant UK marques in a similar way to how MG was reinvented under Chinese ownership.

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