Chery plans to open a passenger car research and development center in Bedfordshire, England, as the Chinese automaker expands its local operations and seeks to develop vehicles more closely adapted to the UK market.
The facility is scheduled to open in late autumn 2026. Initial work will focus on vehicle calibration for UK driving conditions, with research expected to expand into autonomous driving and artificial intelligence.
Chery Establishes UK Engineering Base
Bedfordshire is an established automotive engineering and motorsport hub with several vehicle research and development facilities.
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Chery plans to recruit local employees over time and develop high-skilled positions at the new center.
Gary Lan, CEO of Chery International UK, said the facility represents the next stage of the company’s long-term plans for the UK.
“We waited over 20 years for the right time to enter this market, and our ambition has always gone much further than simply bringing vehicles here.”
Lan previously said at the FT Future of the Car Summit in May that an R&D center would be an important step toward localizing Chery’s operations in the UK.
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UK Manufacturing Plans Advance
Chery is also preparing to establish local vehicle production.
In June, the company signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Nissan covering the production of Chery passenger vehicles at Nissan’s Sunderland plant.
Nissan plans to use the currently idle Line One at Sunderland to manufacture Chery models from 2027. If the plan proceeds, it would represent the first large-scale local production operation by a Chinese automotive brand in the UK.
Chery Gains Market Share
Chery and its Omoda and Jaecoo brands have expanded rapidly in the UK market.
According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the three brands together accounted for almost 8% of UK vehicle sales in July, compared with about 3% a year earlier.
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The company is also expanding its broader European presence. In February, Chery launched the Lepas brand, which was developed specifically with European markets in mind.
The new UK R&D facility adds an engineering and technology component to Chery’s growing European operations, alongside its plans for local vehicle production and expanding sales network.
