Chery Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8 to get PHEV system mid-year

UPDATE, May 15: Chery Australia has confirmed plug-in hybrid versions of the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 will arrive in July as part of the models’ first local update, though pricing and finer spec details won’t be announced until closer to their release.

“The launch of our Super Hybrid technology in Australia marks a major milestone in Chery’s new energy journey,” Chery Australia COO Lucas Harris said.

“Australian drivers can now experience the next generation of hybrid performance – where innovation meets real-world practicality.”

ORIGINAL, March 27: Chery is planning a plug-in hybrid influx as it looks to maintain its stratospheric sales growth in a market where competition is intensifying – and hybrids are leading the charge.

And it’s the Chinese giant’s newcomer brand Jaecoo that will provide the PHEV technology to its more value-focused parent brand, Chery, as the still-fresh brands look to capitalise on interest for petrol-electric vehicles.

The recently repriced Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 SUVs – now from $29,990 and $41,990 drive away respectively – will each utilise the PHEV tech that debuts in the soon-to-arrive Jaecoo J7, a mid-sized SUV that will compete with the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Mitsubishi Outlander as well as the BYD Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid.

Key to the new PHEV models is a plug-in hybrid system that should cover most drivers’ daily driving duties solely on electric power.

In the Jaecoo J7 – Jaecoo is the mainstream premium sister brand to Chery – it boasts a claimed 90km of WLTP range using an 18.3kWh battery.

There is then a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo engine that can extend the range to 1200km and provide additional drive and power above 80km/h.

“We’re still strongly dependent on ICE but also mindful of bringing more sustainable models to market and more environmentally friendly options,” said Ray Munoz, Chery Australia chief commercial officer.

“In the next couple of months we’ll have Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8 PHEVs and Tiggo 4 HEV.”

Those hybrids are key to Chery’s ambitious growth plans, with local executives pointing out that demand in markets such as the UK have made the PHEV a dominant proportion of the model’s sales volume.

Despite the March 31 end to the fringe benefits tax exemption on PHEVs, Munoz believes what he describes as a “compelling price point” will still make Chery PHEVs popular with buyers.

Fresh from 114 per cent sales growth in 2024, Chery Australia CEO Lewis Lu says he plans to maintain that momentum by building sales with the existing Chery line-up and leveraging imminent new arrivals.

“Last year we were the fastest growing car brand in Australia,” said Lu. “I still want to maintain that fastest growing brand.”

Chery will also launch a hybrid version – a regular hybrid rather than plug-in – of its Tiggo 4 compact SUV, which early in its life is among the top selling small SUVs on the market.

Lu also sees opportunities with the imminent departure of the Mitsubishi ASX due to its failure to meet tighter regulations around autonomous emergency braking.

Despite being one of the oldest SUVs on sale – it’s had plenty of updates since hitting the market in 2010 – the ASX’s low entry price makes it a popular choice, accounting for about eight per cent of a growing market segment.

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