Chery Group is preparing to enter Europe’s commercial vehicle market, building on recent momentum from its passenger car brands Jaecoo and Omoda, as it plans to establish a European headquarters for its commercial vehicle arm in the UK city of Liverpool.
The new base will be set up by Chery Commercial Vehicle (CCV) and is expected to create high-skilled jobs across engineering, software development, research and development, and operational functions, the company said. The move marks Chery’s next phase of expansion in Europe after entering Spain in March 2024 and subsequently rolling out Jaecoo and Omoda in the UK, Italy and Hungary.
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Chery has also maintained a European development centre near Frankfurt since 2018, and the launch of its passenger car brands in Germany is expected soon, underscoring its long-term commitment to the region.
Liverpool’s mayor Steve Rotheram welcomed the decision, calling it “a fantastic vote of confidence in our advanced manufacturing and green innovation sectors.”
CCV President Gong Yueqiong said the company aims to embed itself locally rather than operate purely as an exporter. “We are not just bringing products to the UK—we are building a British business,” he said, describing the strategy as “In UK, For UK, Be UK,” with a focus on hiring local talent and working with domestic institutions.
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Chery has not yet confirmed which commercial vehicles it plans to introduce in Europe. CCV’s portfolio spans Karry-branded vans and light trucks, Rely pickup trucks, and C&C heavy-duty trucks and semi-trailers, as well as buses produced through its joint venture Chery Wanda. Most vehicle lines are available with either battery-electric or internal combustion powertrains.
According to Autocar, CCV’s initial European focus is expected to be on battery-electric vans under the Karry brand, while diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks from the C&C range are considered less likely in the near term, despite the availability of a fully electric C&C Tractor New Energy 6×4 model.
Some Karry electric vans are already present in Europe via indirect channels. In Germany, Saxony-based importer Ari Motors has adapted Karry models for local regulations and sells them under its own branding, including the Ari 901.
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Analysts say Chery’s expansion into European commercial vehicles reflects a broader strategy by Chinese automakers to localise operations, leverage electric platforms, and gain a foothold in tightly regulated markets increasingly focused on zero-emission transport.