Chery – yes with just one 'r' – is a large Chinese auto company that owns several different car brands.
The name comes from the two Chinese characters that make up its title – one meaning 'cheerful' and the other meaning 'lucky'.
Chery-branded cars are now on the UK's roads, but the company's already been here for a while in the form of its sub-brands Omoda and Jaecoo.
This guide will talk you through everything you need to know about Chery cars.
Who makes Chery cars?
Chery cars are made by Chery! Think of it a bit like Volkswagen and the wider VW Group – you can buy a Volkswagen-branded car like a Golf or a Polo, or from a VW-Group brand like Audi, Skoda or Cupra.
It's the same for Chery. The company makes its own Chery-branded cars, but also builds cars under different brands – most notably Omoda and Jaecoo for the UK market.
Who owns Chery cars?
Chery cars are part of the wider Chery group. It's one of China's largest car-making groups, and claims to be China's biggest car exporter to foreign markets.
Like most large Chinese car companies, Chery's biggest shareholder is the Chinese government, making it a nationalised state-owned operation.
Chery also holds a 50% stake in Chery Jaguar Land Rover – a joint venture between the company and the famed British luxury brand. This has seen JLR products produced locally in Changsu for the Chinese market, as well as the recent launch of the new Freelander sub-brand.
What cars does Chery make?
At the time of writing, Chery has four models available for UK drivers. These are all part of its 'Tiggo' SUV lineup.
Chery Tiggo 4
This is currently the smallest model in Chery's UK range. The Tiggo 4 is a self-charging-hybrid five-seat SUV competing with the likes of the Hyundai Kona, Skoda Karoq and Nissan Qashqai.
Chery Tiggo 7
The Tiggo 7 remains a two-row, five-seat SUV, but it's noticeably larger than the Tiggo 4. This means more space for your passengers to stretch out and a bigger boot. You've a choice of turbo petrol power or a 'Super Hybrid' plug-in hybrid that can go more than 50 miles on a full charge.
Read our Chery Tiggo 7 review
Chery Tiggo 8
Stepping up to the Tiggo 8 unlocks a longer body with a small third row of seats stuffed into the boot. You'll probably only want to use these for occasional trips as they're quite tight, but you can also fold them away leaving a gargantuan boot. Like the Tiggo 7, there's a choice of turbo petrol or plug-in hybrid engines.
Read our Chery Tiggo 8 review
Chery Tiggo 9
At the top of the lineup is the Tiggo 9. This stretches out even further than the Tiggo 8 and means even adults in the third row should have enough space for longer drives. Once again, the Super Hybrid system is fitted, delivering three-figure mpg scores and a long electric driving range.
What other brands does Chery own?
Omoda
Omoda proudly declares it's a 'spaceship that opens its doors to anyone who wants to explore the fantastic world of future technology, art and design'. Ignoring its especially flowery marketing, Omoda SUVs tend to look sporty and modern, with sharp creases, flowing surfaces and complex, detailed front grilles.
Jaecoo
Jaecoo has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the UK's best-selling brands. The recipe is simple but effective – SUVs with upright, stately styling reminiscent of Land Rover and Range Rover models, but at nearly half the price with similar equipment levels.
Lepas
Lepas is apparently a portmanteau of 'leopard' and 'passion', though its lineup really just looks like rebadged Chery models to our eyes. Expect these models to focus a little more on luxury than the rest of the lineup.
iCaur
The awkwardly named iCaur is expected to launch in the UK soon with its chunky V23 and V27 off-roaders. These models drive the wheels using powerful electric motors and a modest battery pack, but also feature a petrol range extender for long-range driving.
Exeed
Exeed continues Chery's theme of reworking its shared platforms across several different (slightly awkwardly named) brands. There's no confirmed launch date for Exeed in the UK yet, though reports suggest Chery is considering bringing it over here.
Jetour
Jetour is, surprise surprise, another SUV brand. Its range is full of square-jawed off-road styled cars that resemble popular models like the Ford Bronco and Toyota Land Cruiser.
Where are Chery cars made?
Most of Chery's cars are made in factories across China. However, like many large international automakers, Chery has built several manufacturing plants across the globe to better serve different local markets.
It's already confirmed its first European manufacturing location in Barcelona and could open a second facility if demand permits. Building its cars closer to the markets it sells them in helps Chery avoid some of the extra tariffs and expenses with exporting directly from China.
Are Chery cars reliable?
Chery cars haven't really been on UK roads long enough to get a good picture of how they cope with our country's road and weather conditions. That said, all the Chery cars we've driven have felt very solid, with material and build quality that comfortably rivals European brands.
To put early adopters at ease, Chery includes a seven-year manufacturer warranty with all its cars in the UK – four years longer than the industry standard. This is the same as the seven-year Jaecoo warranty and the seven-year Omoda warranty.
Why are Chery cars so cheap?
Chery cars, along with its Omoda and Jaecoo sub-brands, often undercut their European, Japanese and Korean rivals by several thousand pounds. Plus, from the driver's seat it's not obvious where the cost-cutting has been made, as its cars feel well made from fairly premium materials.
In reality, Chery benefits from the enormous economies of scale that come with Chinese manufacturing. Its component costs will be lower than most of its western rivals, meaning it can profitably sell cars while undercutting the competition. This is especially true for the lithium-ion batteries used in its hybrid and electric cars, which come from a supply chain that's dominated by Chinese companies.
