Chery model rollout for Australia outlined, first electric car next year

Chinese car maker Chery is due to return to Australia next month after an absence of eight years with a single model – but a range of SUVs and an electric vehicle are around the corner.

As previously reported, Chery is returning to Australia after an eight-year absence with the Omoda 5 small SUV – a rival for the Mazda CX-30 and Subaru XV, which will be priced from less than $40,000 drive-away in its cheapest form.

It is due to be followed within 12 months by three more variants of the Omoda 5 – including an electric model – and two larger vehicles to compete with the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Mitsubishi Outlander.

MORE: 2023 Chery Omoda 5 priced below $40,000 drive-away, key details released

First deliveries of the Chery Omoda 5 are due to commence in March 2023 in a choice of two model grades – an unnamed base model, and the dearer EX – both with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and front-wheel drive.

Due to follow in the second half of this year is a more powerful 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine in an EX+ flagship model grade, with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive.

Expected to arrive at the same time are two larger mid-size SUVs – the five-seat Tiggo 7 Pro, which competes with the top-selling Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, and the slightly-larger, seven-seat Tiggo 8 Pro, which is similar to a seven-seat Mitsubishi Outlander.

While the Omoda 5 is an all-new vehicle launched in China last year, the Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro are older models, which are related to vehicles that have been on sale overseas – including in other right-hand-drive markets – for up to four years.

Chery executives told Australian media the cars coming to Australia will be updated versions of the models already on sale overseas. It's unclear how substantial the updates will be.

The Tiggo 7 Pro is slated to be powered by a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, while the Tiggo 8 Pro is expected to use a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder – both with seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions.

Chery says it aims to hold an eight per cent share of each of the market segments it competes in – which equates to about 10,000 examples of the Omoda 5 this year. And once they are in showrooms, about 14,000 Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro SUVs annually.

Due in the first half of 2024 is an electric version of the Omoda 5, intended to compete against the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, MG ZS EV, BYD Atto 3, among others.

As reported by Drive last year, a survey sent to customers in Malaysia claimed the Omoda 5 electric vehicle could be powered by a 150kW/400Nm electric motor and 64kWh battery, good for 450km of claimed driving range.

Chery Australia executives would not comment on the price of the electric Omoda 5 – and how much more than the petrol version it will cost – however the Malaysian survey pointed to a price close to $60,000 drive-away.

As previously reported, Chery is believed to be developing a ute – either a rebadged version of another brand's model, or its own vehicle which could be codenamed 'J Series'.

When asked by Drive about plans for a Chery ute, executives said "never say never ... we wouldn't be able to comment much further on that."

Chery Australia brand manager Andrew Haurissa told media: "We will be starting out with Omoda 5, and we'll see how that plays out, what the appetite [is] for a large SUV. We know that Australia is ripe for a ute, however we want to give the market the best product we can offer."

Executives also hinted at more Omoda-badged models similar in size to the two Australia-bound Tiggo vehicles.

For more details on Chery's first model – and its dealer network, service prices and vehicle features – click here.