Chery to develop compact cars in Paris

Currently, the two Chery brands are launching plug-in hybrids in the European market, including the Jaecoo 7 PHEV and Omoda 9 PHEV. Following their debut in Spain in March 2024, the brands rapidly expanded to the UK, Italy, and Hungary. In Germany, the market launch of Jaecoo and Omoda is imminent.

After starting off with plug-in hybrids, Chery also plans to introduce fully electric models in Europe. Near its new site in Paris, the company refers to ‘the next generation of compact urban vehicles’ without specifying the powertrain type. However, it is highly likely that these B-segment vehicles will feature some form of electrification – either fully battery-electric or at least partially hybrid.

The centre complements the existing engineering and design centre in Raunheim near Frankfurt, for which the manufacturer announced an expansion in early February. In Raunheim, key responsibilities include design development, simulation and testing, as well as hardware and mechanical product design.

The new site in Paris will now focus on B-segment models ‘as a central component of Chery Group’s European growth strategy’. The new R&D centre is tasked with analysing the expectations of European customers, integrating regulatory requirements into product development at an early stage, and coordinating country-specific adaptations. In Paris, the Chinese company aims to benefit from a ‘strong automotive and engineering ecosystem with test centres, regulatory expertise, design and engineering talent, and homologation capacities’ in France.

“The new R&D centre in Paris is an important step in expanding our engineering capabilities in Europe. Together with our development sites in Raunheim and Barcelona, we can align our vehicles even more closely with the expectations of European customers, regulatory requirements, and the dynamics of individual markets,” says Jochen Tüting, Managing Director of Chery Europe GmbH.

Hanbang Yu, CEO of Chery Group in France, adds: “The opening of this R&D centre in Paris sends a clear signal: we are not in a test phase—we are building a long-term presence here. France is one of Europe’s most demanding markets and requires a precise understanding of usage scenarios, customer needs, and regulatory requirements. That is why we are adopting a locally anchored development approach and building a comprehensive presence with engineering, industrial partnerships, services, and proximity to our customers.”

Chery operates seven R&D sites worldwide: three in China, three in Europe, and one in Latin America. The carmaker describes itself as ‘China’s leading vehicle exporter’. In 2025, Chery sold 2.6 million vehicles (+8%), of which 1.3 million were outside China. In total, more than 5.8 million vehicles from the group have already been sold worldwide through its international business.

Source: Information via email