Chery makes its electric car debut in Europe with the Chery Q

Chery introduces the Chery Q as its first electric model for Europe. This 4.19-meter-long electric compact car joins the Chinese automaker’s bisher hybrid-focused lineup in Europe. However, the launch of the Chery Q in the German market is scheduled for a later date.

Image: Chery

Chery is currently setting up its headquarters in Germany in Frankfurt am Main, including showrooms for the core Chery brand and its sub-brands Omoda & Jaecoo. The Chinese export giant initially sent its sub-brands ahead: the PHEV SUV Jaecoo 7 SHS was the first official company vehicle in Germany at the beginning of the year. However, in the first half of 2027, the core Chery brand is set to make its debut in Germany, along with its own subsidiary.

The four launch models for the local market are part of the Tiggo model family, all of which are SUVs — and most importantly: all four are hybrids. The Tiggo 4 is a full hybrid, while the Tiggo 7 comes as either a full hybrid or a plug-in hybrid. The seven-seater SUVs Tiggo 8 and 9 are plug-in hybrids. In other words, Chery makes its debut in Germany without an electric vehicle. This was surprising when the plans were announced in August. But with the Chery Q, the manufacturer is now quickly following up with a pure electric vehicle. It is the first model to be marketed in Europe under the Chery brand name.

A 2.70-meter wheelbase creates space inside the cabin

On its international website, Chery announces the new series as a somewhat playful electric compact car that vaguely resembles the Renault 5 E-Tech. The Chery Q is positioned as an electric city car with dimensions of 4.19 x 1.81 x 1.56 meters and a wheelbase of 2.70 meters. The overhangs are short. The four-door model is said to offer plenty of interior space overall. Chery highlights a trunk volume of 375 liters plus an additional 70 liters under the hydraulically opening front hood.

In terms of power, the Chery Q comes equipped with 89 kW of output. This is slightly higher than that of the entry-level version of the similarly long VW ID. Cross. Chery states that the battery’s energy capacity is 41 kWh (compared to 37 kWh in the ID. Cross). Thus, the Chinese manufacturer positions its new model as an alternative to the current push by European manufacturers such as VW and Renault in the electric city car and compact vehicle segments.

Unusually, Chery claims a range of up to 400 kilometers for the Chery Q according to the NEFZ standard. NEFZ is now a testing cycle that is rarely used in vehicle presentations. The WLTP figure, which is more useful for comparison, has not yet been released, but it will be lower than 400 kilometers. For fast charging, Chery only specifies a charge level increase of 30% to 80%, which is also difficult to compare. According to the manufacturer, this compact electric vehicle requires 17 minutes for fast charging. No specific DC charging power is given, though a Vehicle-to-Load function (V2L) is announced.

Image: Chery

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"The Chery Q is already available in numerous international markets," says Chery. However, its launch in the German market is expected only "at a later date." In addition to the pure electric vehicle, Chery is also showcasing another full hybrid model in Paris called the Tiggo 4 — currently the smallest member of the manufacturer’s European hybrid lineup at 4.32 meters in length. No prices have been announced for either series yet.

Eric Zheng, CEO of Chery Auto Deutschland and Vice President of Chery Automotive Europe, said, “Our electric vehicles are affordable. They are safe and reliable, addressing a clear need: they enable families to switch to electric power without compromising their budget or safety. The CHERY Q fully aligns with this positioning.”

Patrick Reimers, Country Director for the Chery brand, added, “With these two new models, we are expanding Chery’s offerings for the European market. We want to provide our customers with various options for electric mobility in everyday life.” It is clear that more battery-electric models will follow the CHERY Q. This is what Reimers could reveal at the brand’s launch in August.

China’s Top Car Exporter for 23 Years

It’s not surprising that Chery is tentatively exploring the German market. Though still relatively unknown here, Chery is China’s most successful car exporter. Eric Zheng listed its achievements: it has been China’s top car exporter for 23 years, set a new delivery record in July 2026 with over 275,000 vehicles (including 202,500 exports), roughly half of which are electric. According to Zheng, Chery is present in 130 countries, including 25 in the EU. In other words, the manufacturer is already active in major markets such as Spain, Poland, and the UK. Chery first entered the European market in 2023.

So why is the market launch in Germany scheduled for 2027 only? Zheng described business conditions here in August as “challenging” and customers as demanding. “The German market essentially forces us to meet the highest standards with our products, services, and partners from the very beginning.” In his view, it’s not about being too early or too late — but simply about “the right timing.”

Within the group, Chery is intended to be positioned as a car brand for families (ad slogan: “Chery. For Family”). With its subsidiaries Omoda and Jaecoo, designed specifically for international markets, the group aims to reach two additional target groups. According to its own marketing statements, Omoda is meant to appeal to a progressive, urban audience, while Jaecoo is supposed to embody an adventurous spirit. Interestingly, the manufacturer wants to keep the brand presentation, management, and distribution channels for Chery on one hand, and Omoda & Jaecoo on the other, relatively strictly separate.

Chery plans to start with 30 sales locations

By the way: For distribution and service, the Chinese manufacturer aims for Germany to adopt a traditional model through retail outlets. At launch next year, Chery plans to have 30 partner dealers, with the goal of expanding to a network of at least 100 outlets across Germany by the end of 2027. To establish its position in the market, the company states it intends to focus on technical excellence and a high level of safety, alongside moderate prices, as seen in other EU countries. For example, the price of the full hybrid Tiggo 4 starts well below 25,000 euros in Austria.

The fact that several Chinese brands are currently entering the German market—such as Leapmotor, Xpeng, and Geely—does not impress Chery. Patrick Reimers comments that as a company with extensive export experience, it is “the most international car manufacturer originating from China” and that it “if at all, looks more to brands like Skoda or Hyundai” as a reference.

_Source: Information via email_