The strategy was highlighted during the French launch of the Omoda and Jaecoo brands, where Lionel French Keogh, Chery’s chief commercial officer for France, confirmed that the company is actively investigating further production capacity across the region.

Chairman Yin Tongyue explained that working with established manufacturers is the preferred route because it reduces the time and resources required compared with building a new plant from the ground up. Yin noted that this approach also strengthens relationships within the European market. While he expects to share news on potential arrangements within the coming months, he declined to identify specific companies or countries under consideration. France, however, is understood to be among the possible locations.

Since entering Europe in 2023, Chery has experienced striking growth. Dataforce figures show that sales rose from 17 035 units in 2024 to 120 147 in 2025, illustrating the strong and growing demand for Chinese car brands across the continent.

Executives believe that European-based production will be essential in order to meet this increasing demand, address European Union tariffs imposed on Chinese electric vehicles and comply with requirements for locally sourced components.

Chery already operates through a joint venture with Ebro at a former Nissan factory in Barcelona. The company intends to increase production at this site to 200 000 vehicles per year by 2029. In addition, Chery plans to launch a new model in France later this year and is assessing the introduction of a small electric sport utility vehicle. The Lepas brand is also set to be brought to Europe.

Chery’s global rise has been equally notable. By 2025, widely reported early in 2026, it had reached 11th place worldwide by total vehicle sales, delivering about 2.8 million units. This positions the company just outside the global top ten, a significant milestone given its comparatively short history. Chery also made substantial progress on the Fortune Global 500, climbing to 233rd place in 2025 from 385th the previous year, reflecting strong revenue growth and expanding international operations. The company remains China’s largest passenger car exporter, with an increasing share of sales generated outside its home market.

The company’s momentum is especially visible in South Africa, where it has become one of the nation’s top ten best‑selling automotive brands and is often ranked between sixth and eighth place, depending on the month.

Chery South Africa has officially confirmed plans to invest in a local manufacturing plant, previously the Nissan plant in Rosslyn after only four years on from re-entering the South African automotive market.

Chery has become a consistent top-10 player in local sales, with an average of 50 000 units sold annually, along with a rapidly expanding network of 150 dealers nationwide. Its Chery Tiggo ranges, as well as stand-alone brands, Omoda and Jaecoo (together) and Jetour nameplates are no strangers to the ten top selling vehicle list in South Africa.

Taken together, these developments establish Chery as a rapidly ascendant global manufacturer that sits close to the top ten internationally and continues to gain strong traction in emerging markets, particularly South Africa.