√China’s Chery one step closer to Australia

The car maker – formerly criticised for poor safety ratings and copying other designs – doesn’t look to be joking around with ambitious new expansion plans.

Chinese car maker Chery appears to be preparing for a relaunch in the Australian market.

The budget marque launched locally in 2011, but upped stumps four years later following poor sales, sub-par safety credentials, and an asbestos scare.

However, earlier this week Chery’s Wuhu headquarters began advertising a Sydney-based ‘Sales Management’ position on corporate social network LinkedIn.

According to the brief, the successful candidate will: “Serve as the main action driver on the field for Chery with dealers and vice versa.”

MORE: China’s Chery planning Australian return

The announcement comes less than three months after Chery began promoting a ‘Brand Manager’ role also based in Australia – as reported first by Drive.

A public relations agency representing the Chinese marque has been pushing material to Drive in recent days, outlining new additions to the model range.

However a spokesperson would not comment on local plans, saying: “At the moment we’re unable to confirm if or when [we] will launch for Australia.”

Chery sold its J1 city car, J3 small hatchback, and J11 small SUV (shown below) via local distributor Ateco during its first foray into the market (2011 to 2015).

However, advertising for a sales positions through the China-based head office suggests a factory-backed operation is more likely this time around.

Drive contacted a spokesperson for Ateco seeking comment on its knowledge of the plans, and this story will be updated with its response.

While it’s yet to be locked in which models Chery is planning to bring to Australia, the brand last year confirmed plans to build an upcoming SUV in both right- and left-hand drive, with Australia in its sights.

At the time, executives suggested the model – dubbed Omoda 5 (shown below and at top of page) – could be sold in “Asia, South America, Australia, Africa, and Europe … from 2022.”

Various media reports suggest this timing is on track, however the company is yet to provide any further details beyond its press releases.

While it appears efforts are well underway for re-emergence in Australia, the decision to hire local staff and promote press material doesn’t guarantee plans will develop to the retail stage.

Last year Vietnamese car maker VinFast bought the former Holden testing facility at Lang Lang and hired hundreds of Australian employees in anticipation to develop cars locally.

However, the plans ultimately fell apart shortly after they began, and by August 2021 the company had withdrawn all attempts to establish a foothold in Australia.

Alongside widespread build quality and safety criticisms in Australia, Chery has previously attracted attention for its derivative designs and ‘borrowed’ engineering.

The 2003-2015 Chery QQ3 hatchback was reportedly so similar to the General Motors-built Daewoo Matiz that many parts – including the doors – were interchangeable (both models shown above).

Some have noted a similarity between the Chery Omoda 5 and the new Nissan Ariya SUV, though this hasn’t extended beyond internet chatter, unlike the lawsuits related to the QQ3.

The post China’s Chery one step closer to Australia appeared first on Drive.