Chery EVs to target Tesla

An electric sedan and SUV benchmarked against the Tesla Model 3 and Y will lead a massive new model roll-out by incoming Chinese brand Chery.

In the next few years Chery is promising to launch 23 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles based on three new platforms that will be central to its global rollout including Australia.

Chery, which returns to Australia in either late 2022 or early 2023 with the new Chery Omoda 5 small SUV, has ambitions to sell 75,000-plus per annum in Australia by 2027 and two million vehicles in export markets annually by 2030.  

It will start with the Omoda 5, followed by the larger Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro and a fourth, Jeep-style SUV by the end of 2023. The smaller Tiggo 4 Pro SUV has also been potentially slated for Australian introduction. All of them are based on Chery’s staple T1X modular architecture.

But Chery is also developing models on three new platforms: E0X for electric passengers vehicles including SUVs; C0X for electric light commercial vehicles and T2X, a platform for medium and large SUVs with orthodox and hybrid powertrains.

Currently, these new platforms are intended to produce 18 battery-electric vehicles and five hybrids in the coming years.

There are also more orthodox and electric models coming based on T1X.

Specific new models already confirmed by Chery include the Omoda 7 and 9 – big brothers for the Omoda 5 – and the J Series ‘urban off-roader’.

As yet unsighted, the J Series has been confirmed for Australia as soon as late 2023.

“E0X is a high-performing pure-electric car product platform,” Chery International executive vice-president Charlie Zhang told carsales.

“The first two models will be E03 and E0Y, followed by E05 and E06… A range of new products will be developed on this new platform. So this is pretty strategic.

“Next year you will see the first two models will be unveiled.”

Chinese media reports indicate the E03 is a new sedan to be sold by Chery’s Exeed premium brand. E0Y is an SUV that is also expected to get Exeed badging.

While Exeed is regarded as an international brand by Chery Auto, there is no indication if it will launch here or whether E03 and E0Y could come to Australia rebadged as Chery vehicles.

E03 is due for release by September 2023 and the E0Y by December 2023.

“We benchmark those two vehicles against the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y,” revealed Zhang. “So 4.9 metres long and three metres wheelbase. So very, very nice.”

Some clues to both EVs might have been provided by the GENE concept car (pictured here) that Chery revealed at the Yaoguang 2025 Chery Technology Day last month.

Measuring five metres long and two metres wide, the big GENE electric SUV is powered by an unspecified electric powertrain and boasts advanced technologies led by a curved 27-inch central touch-screen.

Zhang said the C0X product platform used skateboard technology with different bodies fitted to it.

“It can be used for both passenger and cargo purposes. So we are developing this new C0X platform on which a range of new LCVs can be developed.

“Also, T2X product platforms is our medium and larger sized SUV product platforms.

“Obviously, we will introduce those new models to Australia in the coming years.”

The first model to come from T2X is a new flagship for the Tiggo line-up, the 9. Based on Zhang’s comments it’s looking good for Australia.

However, Zhang also made it clear more models will still spin from the existing modular T1X platform, including plug-in vehicles.

The T1X-based Omoda 5 EV will be the first Chery battery-electric vehicle to come to Australia, around mid-2024.

“I believe this car will be very competitive,” said Zhang. 

“This car is based on the T1X product platform. Once we develop Omoda 5 BEV all the chassis including the electric motor and electric controls can be applied to the other models on the same product platforms.”

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