Chery

History

Chery was founded in 1997 in Wuhu, in Anhui province, with support from the local government. It began series production within two years and quickly became one of China's largest domestic carmakers, starting with licensed underpinnings before moving to independently developed models. Its early growth rested on the vast home market and a reputation for affordability.

Chery was among the first Chinese brands to look deliberately outward. Exports began in the early 2000s, initially to the Middle East, South America and Russia, and the company established or planned assembly operations in several of those markets. Sub-brands and model families such as the QQ city car and the Tiggo SUVs gave it a broad range, while joint ventures expanded its engineering capability.

In the 2020s Chery accelerated its push into Europe, launching the Omoda and Jaecoo names alongside its main brand and offering both combustion and electrified models. It has positioned itself on value, long equipment lists and extended warranties rather than on heritage, and has expanded quickly in markets including Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Innovations

Chery's significance is less about a single invention than about scale and export strategy. It was one of the first Chinese carmakers to treat exports as a core business rather than an afterthought, building a global dealer footprint and local assembly in several regions.

In recent years the company has invested heavily in plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains, and its engine families span small petrol units through to electrified systems. The Omoda and Jaecoo sub-brands have been used to test a more design-led, higher-specification approach aimed specifically at European buyers.