In just a few years, Jaecoo has gone from relative unknown to one of the UK's best-selling car brands.
Its name comes from mashing together 'jaeger' – the German word for 'hunter' – and 'cool'. You may think that's kinda cringe, but it hasn't stopped the brand scoring a spot among the UK's best-selling cars every month in 2026 so far.
Clearly, Jaecoo is doing something right, so let's dive in and learn more about this growing brand.
Who makes Jaecoo cars?
Jaecoo is part of the Chery group, which one of China's largest automakers. You can think of Jaecoo's relationship to Chery as similar to Skoda's with the VW Group – Jaecoo sells rebranded, redesigned vehicles based on Chery models.
Currently, all Jaecoo cars in the UK are manufactured in China and imported into the country. However, Jaecoo and its parent Chery have both expressed interest in manufacturing vehicles within Europe to avoid import tariffs.
Who owns Jaecoo cars?
As noted above, Jaecoo is owned by Chery. That means its cars fill a gap in the group's portfolio, alongside other brands like Omoda and Lepas, as well as Chery's own-brand cars.
Chery is a state-owned carmaker, which means the Chinese government is the largest shareholder. This practice used to be common among western brands, although most have since been sold off.
What cars does Jaecoo make?
There are currently three models in the Jaecoo lineup. Considering the brand's success in the UK, we expect more will arrive in the near future.
Jaecoo 5
This is the smallest car in the Jaecoo range. However, it's still reasonably practical thanks to its boxy proportions, making it a good choice as a small family car. Consider cross-shopping the 5 against cars like the Hyundai Kona, Renault Symbioz and Skoda Karoq.
It's available either as the Jaecoo 5 with a turbo petrol engine, or as the battery-powered Jaecoo E5 with a 61kWh pack and 248-mile range.
Read our full Jaecoo 5 review
Jaecoo 7
The Jaecoo 7 was the brand's first car in the UK and remains its most-popular model so far. It's still a two-row, five-seat boxy SUV but expanded a little over the 5, making it a closer rival to cars like the Kia Sportage or Ford Kuga.
There's no fully electric 7 so far, leaving a choice of an entry-level turbo-petrol model, or either self-charging or plug-in hybrids.
Read our full Jaecoo 7 review
Jaecoo 8
The most recent addition to the lineup is the Jaecoo 8. This is a big, burly seven-seat SUV with acres of space and all the brand's fanciest tech. It's a competitor for cars like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Volkswagen Tayron, although it undercuts both for the number of features it offers at this price point.
What other brands does Jaecoo own?
Jaecoo is a brand that sits under the wider Chery umbrella. As a result, it doesn't have any sub-brands of its own.
Considering how quickly the Chinese car market has expanded, however, there's always a chance Jaecoo might want to split itself further into separate lineups if it proves enduringly popular.
Are Jaecoo cars reliable?
Jaecoo cars are still relative newcomers to the UK, having only been here since the start of 2025. That means it's hard to gauge how robust its cars are proving to be over our craggy roads. Nevertheless, all its models are built using tried-and-tested parts that are shared widely among other Chery, Omoda and Lepas cars.
Along with its fellow Chery brands, Jaecoo has a long seven-year factory warranty. That's among the longest coverage you'll find in the industry and means you can drive the car with confidence for many years, knowing Jaecoo has your back if something fails.
Why are Jaecoo cars so cheap?
Jaecoos aren't the cheapest Chinese cars you can buy – the likes of Chery and MG often undercut it. However, its cars are still thousands of pounds less than traditional brands, usually while also offering a more generous equipment list and longer warranty coverage.
The secret, of course, is the enormous economies of scale achieved by car manufacturing in China. It costs Jaecoo much less to build one of its models in China than it might for Volkswagen to build an equivalent car in Germany, for example. As a result, Jaecoo can sell its cars at a lower price while still making profit. This puts pressure on traditional carmakers and means more choice for British car buyers.
