Chery has big plans to mount an assault on the
European market, and intends to unveil the first of its new products at the
Frankfurt Motor Show next month.
The Chinese automaker intends to launch a new line
of vehicles specifically targeted at young urbanites. That'll start with a new
compact SUV, previewed here for the first time in a trio of teaser images, to
launch “within the next few years.”
The plans call for various electrified powertrains,
including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric vehicles. And to get
there, it's opening a new R&D facility in Europe, in addition to the three
it already operates in the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Wuhu.
Chery touts its standing as one of China's
largest automakers, with a particular focus on exports. Founded just 20 years
ago, the company has already sold over 1.2 million vehicles in overseas
markets, in addition to those it sells back home in China. And it's only
growing: last year Chery sold over 700,000 vehicles globally, representing a
massive increase of 28 percent over the previous year.
