Chery: On Track for Germany with Its Hybrid Trio

SUVs are always a hit. That’s what Chery thought, too—and while they didn’t launch an electric car for their market entry in Germany, they did introduce three hybrid SUVs from the Tiggo series. All of them offer plenty of space and a wealth of features at fair prices. The Chinese manufacturers are just going a bit overboard with the comfort, though. But there are still a few months to go.

Chery certainly has guts—you have to give them that. Just one year after launching its sub-brands Omoda and Jaecoo, the Chinese auto giant now wants to make its own big push into the electric vehicle market here—in the land of unlimited driving. And it’s doing so with big ambitions, despite its relatively low profile. That doesn’t seem entirely out of the question, though, for a company that’s been in business for three decades and employs more than 100,000 people worldwide. And under its vast umbrella, alongside its own brands Tiggo and Arrizo, are iCar, Exeed, Exlantix, Jetour, Luxeed, Lepas, Omoda, and Jaecoo.

Currently, the conglomerate’s sales and service networks cover a good 80 countries, and with exports of more than 1.3 million vehicles last year, Chery became China’s largest auto exporter. Total sales amounted to just over 2.8 million units. So this isn’t just another startup trying to break into the market—it’s a true industry giant. And with its initial lineup of hybrid models that don’t aim for the premium segment—the Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8, and Tiggo 9—it could very well strike a chord with current buyer sentiment in this country. The Chinese automaker aims to stand out primarily with modern technology, automated driving, reasonable prices—and a traditional sales model that doesn’t rely on direct online purchases. “Buying a car is a matter of trust,” says Aaron Zheng, who is responsible for global expansion and the brand’s technology strategy. Testing and experiencing the cars—that’s best done in person, according to Chery: through a network of dealers.

The company is currently working hard to build this network. However, with around 50 locations planned for the launch in the first half of 2027, it’s fair to say the network is still quite sparse. Still, Chayne Brand, the head of marketing for Germany, is certain that the number will reach around 100 by the end of next year. This is by no means intended to be merely an expansion of the existing Jaecoo and Omoda branches—and certainly not about glitzy showrooms in just a few prime locations. This approach is likely to appeal to smaller multi-brand companies as well as “local heroes” or large car dealerships, which—due to constantly growing pressure from their current manufacturers—are not infrequently turning away from them.

Chery also aims to establish a strong presence in the spare parts supply sector—which is typically challenging for newcomers—even before the first car is sold. With a large central warehouse, a partnership with logistics provider Kühne+Nagel—and the promise to have more than 90 percent of all parts available at dealerships within 24 hours. And for those who still have reservations about China and quality: Chery offers a seven-year warranty (up to 150,000 kilometers) on the car and an eight-year warranty (160,000 kilometers) on the battery.

For its launch here, the company has spared no expense—visually or technically—and has put some stylish models on the road. Kicking things off are the full-hybrid Tiggo 7, which at 4.55 meters long is Tiguan-sized; the Tiggo 8, a seven-seat plug-in hybrid measuring 4.72 meters and Kodiaq-sized; and the Tiggo 9, another seven-seater plug-in hybrid that stretches to 4.81 meters.

All share a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 143 PS. The difference lies in the electric power. The front-wheel-drive T7 and T8 models also feature an electric motor with 150 kW (204 PS), bringing the total system output to 224 PS (T7) and 279 PS (T8). The all-wheel-drive flagship T9, with 428 PS of total power, features an electric motor with 75 kW (102 PS) on the front axle and one with 175 kW (238 PS) on the rear axle. Despite weighing 2.3 metric tons, it accelerates briskly—if needed, it takes just 5.4 seconds to reach the third digit on the speedometer.

There’s no shortage of space in any of the three models—even in the back, there’s plenty of headroom and legroom. And so you find yourself seated in a thoroughly opulent ambience, although the seats could certainly offer more support. Incidentally, the same applies to the suspension, which—even in Sport mode—is extremely comfort-oriented. Now, cornering is certainly not the Tiggo models’ core strength, but the engineers at the Raunheim development center near Frankfurt should feel free to give German customers a ride that’s a bit less of a “pampering” experience than what we found in the test cars. The steering, too, could convey the sensation that the front wheels and the steering wheel are connected much sooner. For those who prefer to haul cargo rather than passengers—with the seats folded down, you can pack in between 1.3 and 2 cubic meters.

There’s nothing to complain about when it comes to the features. When it comes to safety, the car comes with everything that’s currently standard—plus all sorts of amenities like heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, a power tailgate, a sound system, tinted noise-insulating glass, and all sorts of other bells and whistles. A major advantage of the standard full package: You can save yourself the trouble of poring over pages of optional extras and, at most, just have to decide on the paint color and wheels. This is where price comes into play—perhaps the most compelling argument. As things stand, the T7 will be priced at 35,000 euros, the T8 at 40,000, and the T9 at 50,000. Competitors whose emblems feature stars, rings, or white and blue often charge twice as much.

The Chinese are well aware that they are not venturing into the world’s largest—and certainly most challenging—automobile market. After all, Germany still sets the bar when it comes to customer expectations, quality standards, and technology. Brand awareness, product quality, service expertise, and compliance are of paramount importance. In the early years—as Chayne Brand knows all too well—the main challenge will be to raise awareness of the brand somehow. Chery is therefore still keeping its cards close to its chest regarding potential sales figures. However, word is that the focus is more on private customers—if only because of the stronger customer loyalty that comes with it.

This, in turn, leads to the trust that Chery is determined to earn. And, according to the company, that starts with safety. To leave no room for doubt, the Chinese are happy to set their batteries on fire or drag them over curbs all around the globe. This time, on the Black Sea beach, the battery was submerged for 24 hours. Once dried off and reinstalled, it performed flawlessly in a Tiggo 9. It would be strange, after all, if a flagship model couldn’t handle saltwater. (aum)

Chery Tiggo 7 Specifications

Length x Width x Height (m): 4.55 x 1.86 x 1.69
Wheelbase (m): 2.67
Powertrain: Full hybrid, 224 PS system output, front-wheel drive, automatic transmission
Max. torque: 295 Nm
Top speed: 175 km/h
Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h: 8.7 sec.
WLTP average fuel consumption: 5.7 l/100 km
Battery capacity: 1.83 kWh
Range: 880 km
Max. charging power: N/A
Curb weight / Payload: 1,692 kg / 433 kg
Trunk volume: 484 – 1,305 liters
Towing capacity: 750 kg
Price: approx. 35,000 euros

Chery Tiggo 8 Specifications

Length x Width x Height (m): 4.72 x 1.86 x 1.71
Wheelbase (m): 2.71
Powertrain: Plug-in hybrid, 279 PS system output, front-wheel drive, automatic transmission
Max. torque: 365 Nm
Top speed: 180 km/h
Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h: 9.0 sec.
Average WLTP fuel consumption: 2.5 l/100 km
Battery capacity: 18.4 kWh
Range: 1,050 km / 90 km on electric power
Max. charging power: 6.6 kW
Curb weight / Payload: 1,991 kg / 594 kg
Trunk volume: N/A
Towing capacity: 750 kg
Price: approx. 40,000 euros

Chery Tiggo 9 Specifications

Length x Width x Height (m): 4.81 x 1.93 x 1.74
Wheelbase (m): 2.80
Powertrain: Plug-in hybrid, 428 PS system output, all-wheel drive, automatic transmission
Max. torque: 580 Nm
Top speed: 180 km/h
Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h: 5.4 sec.
Average WLTP fuel consumption: 1.7 l/100 km
Battery capacity: 32.4 kWh
Range: 1,050 km / 144 km (electric)
Max. charging power: 6.6 kW
Curb weight / Payload: 2,308 kg / 578 kg
Trunk volume: 819 l – 2,065 l
Towing capacity: 750 kg / 1,500 kg (braked)
Price: approx. 50,000 euros