Chery Automobile Co Ltd

Chinese automaker Chery Automobile has announced it will open a new research and development base in the UK during 2026. The facility is scheduled to open in the autumn at the UTAC Millbrook vehicle development and testing site in Bedfordshire. It will initially focus on building chassis and driver assistance systems tailored to UK customers, before eventually expanding into autonomous driving and artificial intelligence. According to the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Chinese manufacturers accounted for around 15 percent of new car registrations in the UK in the first half of this year, up from about 10 percent for the full year 2025, helped by competitive pricing. Gary Lang, chief executive of Chery International UK, said UTAC Millbrook will allow the company to apply UK customer insights to product development, from ride comfort and steering to preventive safety systems.

Chery Group is set to officially launch its high-end LUXEED brand in Thailand in the fourth quarter of this year, aiming to redefine luxury through vehicles that blend opulence with intelligent technology under the concept of Enlighten Driving Pleasure. Jin Liu, Deputy Executive Director of LUXEED Thailand, said that entering Thailand is not just about introducing a new brand, but about bringing unexpected luxury to Thai consumers. Thailand has been chosen as one of the first international markets and a key strategic market for LUXEED, with the goal of serving as a starting point for building a systematic growth framework covering brand building, product introduction, dealer network expansion, and after-sales service. Currently, LUXEED has two models launched in China: the LUXEED V9, a luxury MPV that achieved the fastest cumulative delivery of 10,000 units in China, and the LUXEED RX, a high-performance sports coupe. Both models will be launched in Thailand in the fourth quarter. Founded in 1997, Chery Group recorded global sales of over 2.8 million units in 2025 and has ranked first in Chinese passenger car exports for 23 consecutive years. As of July 2026, its cumulative global sales surpassed 20 million units.

Chinese automakers are accelerating their push into the Japanese market with electric vehicles. Facing slowing growth at home and tariff barriers in the West, they aim to crack the market by leveraging Japan’s unique kei EV standards. BYD has unveiled the RACCO, a kei EV designed specifically for Japan, and appointed the former developer of the Nissan Sakura to lead the effort, packing it with family-friendly features like automatic sliding doors and heated cup holders. BYD’s global sales in 2025 are around 4.6 million units, making it the top EV seller, but its domestic sales in China have been falling year on year, hit by shrinking incentives for new energy vehicles. With the United States imposing a 100 percent tariff on Chinese-made EVs and the European Union also raising duties, Japan, which has no such tariff measures, presents a lower barrier to entry. BYD is rushing to build a sales network through partnerships with major import car dealers. Chery Automobile is co-developing a kei EV with Autobacs Seven and plans to launch it next year, while premium EV brand Zeekr has announced it will introduce an electric minivan. Hiroyuki Shimizu of AlixPartners describes the Japanese market as low risk, low return, while Wu Mingxian of TNC Research and Consulting points to challenges such as Japanese consumers’ willingness to buy Chinese cars given their demand for high quality, and the need to expand sales and service networks in rural areas.

EXEED AiMOGA Robotics announced that cumulative global deliveries have exceeded 2,000 units, with products and services now reaching more than 60 countries and regions. The milestone was marked at a global delivery ceremony in Wuhu, China, where shipment vehicles loaded with AiMOGA products departed for Wuhu Port. The company has progressed from its first robot export to scaled commercial deployment in just over two years, becoming one of the earlier Chinese robotics firms to achieve large-scale international deliveries. AiMOGA draws on the global industrial experience of parent company Chery, sharing its R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, and service networks to support scaled global deployment. The robots are being used in real-world commercial scenarios including smart policing, medical guidance, and public services, with 110 intelligent traffic police robots deployed across multiple cities in the first half of this year.

Tesla's UK deliveries fell 9% to 45,239 vehicles in 2025, while revenue dropped 6% to £1.83 billion, according to accounts for its UK subsidiary. The decline comes as Chinese rivals gain ground, with the Jaecoo E5 made by Chery International becoming the third most popular electric car in July, priced from £27,505 compared to around £38,000 for a Tesla Model 3. Overall UK battery-electric vehicle sales rose 44.5% to a record 43,106 last month, but no Tesla model appeared in the top 10. The UK has not imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, unlike the EU or the US. Tesla's global profits fell 17% to $1.2 billion in the second quarter, as it cut prices and lost tax credits, while doubling capital spending on AI and robotics.

Chery International has surpassed 20 million cumulative vehicle sales worldwide, becoming the first China-based OEM group to reach that milestone. The 20-millionth vehicle was the new CHERY Fulwin A9, a premium long-range intelligent electric saloon, echoing the original Fulwin that was the company's first production model and among its earliest exports. Founded in 1997, Chery was also the first Chinese automotive brand to exceed one million cumulative sales in 2007 and has ranked as China's largest passenger vehicle exporter for 23 consecutive years. In the first half of 2026, the company exported 943,800 vehicles, up 71.5% year-on-year, and set four consecutive monthly export records, with one Chery-built vehicle shipped overseas every 17 seconds. The group now employs 150,000 people worldwide, including more than 20,000 staff outside its home market.

South Korean automaker KG Mobility announced that China's Chery Automobile has agreed to invest $75 million through convertible bonds. If the bonds are converted into shares, Chery will hold approximately 10% of KG Mobility. Zhang Guibing, head of Chery's international division, said that Chery's global production bases could play an important role in future cooperation between the two companies, and that they can explore sharing global production capacity and manufacturing collaboration. KG Mobility plans to launch a mid-size SUV adopting Chery's T2X platform in January next year, and aims to sell over 55,000 units worldwide in the first half of 2026, with about 60% of those being exports.

FREELANDER has announced that the first mass-production vehicles of the FREELANDER 8 for China have rolled off the assembly line at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover Changshu Manufacturing Base, which also houses the FREELANDER Super Factory. Production for international markets is also underway, and test vehicles have arrived in the Middle East for local road testing ahead of the brand's market debut in Abu Dhabi this September. The Super Factory represents a total investment of over 3.1 billion US dollars, with an additional 440 million US dollars in new energy intelligent manufacturing upgrades, and features more than 1,100 robots and a fully automated body shop. FREELANDER is a British Premium Intelligent All-Terrain brand co-developed by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, with JLR leading design and Chery providing advanced technology and supply chain capabilities. The UAE has been selected as FREELANDER's first international launch market, serving as a strategic gateway for future growth.

LEPAS, Chery Auto's new energy vehicle brand for the mid-to-premium segment, has launched a global lineup comprising the LEPAS L4 EV, LEPAS L6 EV, and LEPAS L8 PHEV. The L4 EV features a highly integrated 12-in-1 electric drive system and supports fast charging from 30% to 80% in 20 minutes at over 120 kW. The L6 EV is positioned as an intelligent and refined SUV with V2L external power supply and a distinctive Leopard Aesthetics design. The L8 PHEV offers a wheelbase of 2800 mm, Level 2 ADAS, and a comprehensive NEDC range exceeding 1300 kilometers with three charging methods. The models will be rolled out gradually in markets worldwide, supported by a network of over 500 sales and service outlets.

OMODA & JAECOO has broken ground on its first South African plant, with the JAECOO 5 set to be the first key model for mass production. The plant will simultaneously produce internal combustion engine, hybrid electric vehicle, and battery electric vehicle variants of the JAECOO 5. The brand was South Africa's fastest-growing automotive brand in 2025, with sales up 147% year-over-year. The JAECOO 5 EV has seen strong global performance, topping SUV registrations in Thailand for six consecutive months and ranking among the top five best-selling vehicles in Indonesia in May 2026.

OMODA & JAECOO held its OMODA SUPER AI NIGHT technology conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 27, marking the ASEAN regional debut of the Cyber Mecha SUV OMODA 4 and the large-scale deployment of its AI cockpit powered by the ByteDance Seed large language model. The event featured speeches from Indonesian government official Yusuf Nugroho, OMODA & JAECOO International CEO Shawn Xu, and Chery International Executive Vice President Chen Chunqing, who outlined the brand's localized strategy for Indonesia and the broader ASEAN market. The AI cockpit, described as the world's first OMODA system integrated with the ByteDance Seed LLM and Southeast Asia's first vehicle-mounted solution with full native AI capabilities, was demonstrated by Chery Automobile R&D Institute Chief Scientist Jian Qiu, revealing a three-stage OTA evolution roadmap and cross-domain collaboration among 10 intelligent agents. OMODA 4, positioned as a CYBER MECHA SUV for young consumers, is the first right-hand-drive model in ASEAN equipped with a mass-produced, natively integrated AI large language model, and its launch was accompanied by an upgrade to the local dealer and service network announced by OMODA & JAECOO Indonesia Business Unit Director Ma Shijia. The conference represents a key milestone in the brand's Dual Super Strategy for the ASEAN market and its push to lead the intelligent mobility segment for young users in Southeast Asia.

Chery Group’s FREELANDER brand has begun preparations for its Middle East regional launch in Abu Dhabi, marking the international debut of the FREELANDER 8 SUV. The vehicle introduces the Super Intelligent Valet Parking system to the Middle East market, becoming the first and only British premium brand to equip SIVP in the segment. The system integrates 27 high-performance sensors and delivers one-touch summon, autonomous yielding, remote monitoring, and smart negotiation at oncoming traffic. SIVP is engineered for full-scenario adaptability in the region’s high-temperature, high-glare, and complex road conditions, addressing common parking challenges from tight spaces to large lots. FREELANDER is a British Premium Intelligent All-Terrain brand co-developed by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, with JLR leading design and premium DNA while Chery provides advanced technology and global supply chain capabilities.

FREELANDER, the British Premium Intelligent All-Terrain brand co-developed by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, has unveiled the interior of its new FREELANDER 8 model. The cabin features a 46.3-inch Far-side Integrated Display spanning approximately 1.2 meters across the dashboard, offering 8K resolution and 1,000 nits of peak brightness, paired with a 15.6-inch Center Display powered by a Qualcomm SA8295P chip. Rear passengers get a 17.3-inch ceiling-mounted display, while physical controls include dual floating crystal-style knobs and tactile buttons for key functions. The front row commander seats provide a 350mm seating height and an H-point 840mm above ground level, with 230mm of headroom and enhanced forward visibility.

LEPAS, the mid-to-high-end new energy brand under Chery Group, has officially launched the LEPAS L8 PHEV for global markets. The plug-in hybrid features a dedicated engine with 45.79% thermal efficiency and a transmission with 97.6% efficiency, delivering combined fuel consumption as low as 2.38 liters per 100 kilometers and an NEDC combined range of up to 1,300 kilometers. It supports 40-kilowatt DC fast charging that can replenish the battery from 30% to 80% in the time it takes for a cup of coffee. The vehicle rides on a 2,800-millimeter wheelbase and offers L2-level ADAS with over twenty functions including 540-degree panoramic imaging and automatic parking. Safety highlights include a high-strength steel cage body, up to ten airbags, and a triple-protection battery structure meeting IP68 and IPX9K standards.

King Gen Public Company Limited, or KGEN, has joined forces with Chery Group to introduce the premium automotive brand LEPAS for the first time anywhere in the world, right here in Thailand. The companies also unveiled the flagship electric SUV, the LEPAS L6 EV, inspired by Leopard Aesthetics. Special introductory pricing starts at 749,000 baht for the Comfort variant and 799,000 baht for the Premium variant, valid until 31 August 2026. Mr. Kanis Sriwachiraprapha, Chairman of the Advisory Board at KGEN, revealed that the company is targeting sales of no fewer than 40,000 to 50,000 units in the second half of the year and expects to pay dividends to shareholders in 2026, driven by sustained earnings growth. Meanwhile, Mr. Zhai Xiaoping, CEO of LEPAS Thailand, stated that Thailand was chosen as the world's first market due to consumer readiness, with plans to expand into 90 countries by 2030 and an annual sales target of 1 million units.

LUXEED hosted a global media drive for the LUXEED R7 at the Dubai International Financial Centre, putting the vehicle through a 7.1-kilometer urban loop that included the E11 highway to validate its intelligent capabilities and ride comfort. The route covered typical Middle Eastern driving scenarios, allowing participants to assess acceleration, steering, braking, the Highway Navigation of Autopilot system, NVH levels, and ride quality. The event highlighted advanced smart driving features such as Super Intelligent Valet Parking, Automated Parking Assist, Exit Parking Assist, and Valet Parking Assistance, which enable remote control via a mobile app and fully automated parking and summoning. Media representatives and regional influencers praised the R7’s integrated product strengths, with one UAE-based journalist calling the SIVP function beyond expectations and noting that intuitive smart experiences addressing real driving challenges embody true luxury mobility. Following the drive, an exclusive dinner deepened discussions on intelligent performance, cabin craftsmanship, and Middle East market adaptability, reinforcing LUXEED’s premium lifestyle brand narrative. The event underscored the LUXEED R7’s key strengths in intelligent luxury mobility from Chery Group, and the brand will continue refining smart driving technologies and luxury travel experiences tailored to high-standard lifestyle demands of Middle Eastern consumers.

Chinese automakers BYD, Chery, and Leapmotor posted triple-digit registration gains in the European Union during the first half of 2026, as battery-electric vehicle registrations across the bloc jumped 40.5% year-on-year to 1.22 million units and claimed a 20.7% market share. BYD registrations surged 168.2% to 130,743 units, Chery jumped 268.7% to 84,987 units, and Leapmotor posted a more than fivefold increase of 526.7% to 48,261 units, while SAIC Motor rose 19.1% to 127,585 units. Tesla also strengthened its position with a 75.4% rise to 124,242 units. In contrast, legacy automakers lost ground, with Ford registrations falling 20.2% to 132,780 units, Nissan down 5.3% to 106,833 units, and Renault Group declining 4.2% to 620,250 units. Overall EU new car registrations rose 5.7% year-on-year, while the combined share of petrol and diesel vehicles fell to 29.7% from 37.8% a year earlier.

Chinese AI startup PsiBot is raising about $100 million at a valuation of $1.48 billion. The round, led by Chery Automobile with participation from Lens Technology and others, is nearing its final stage, bringing total funding since its founding in 2024 to about $300 million. The company is one of the few unicorns working on embodied AI and world models, developing technology that enables robots and autonomous vehicles to perceive and act in the real world. Its founders include a PhD from George Washington University, former employees of Alibaba and Tencent, and researchers from Peking University and Stanford University. This year, it aims to build a general-purpose world action model by collecting one million hours of data.

EXEED has dispatched eight test vehicles equipped with its Valet Parking Driver technology to Saudi Arabia, with local validation trials set to begin in August across Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates under extreme heat and complex road conditions. The VPD system, which includes a One-Touch Recall feature allowing users to summon their vehicle via an app while waiting in air-conditioned lobbies, will debut globally on the 2026 ET model. The technology aims to transform parking from a personal chore into a fully vehicle-managed service, enabling effortless parking in busy commercial areas of Dubai or along the Abu Dhabi Corniche.

Chery Group's NEV brand LEPAS is preparing to launch the L4 EV, a new electric SUV built on the dedicated Intelligent LEX Platform. The vehicle features a 65.05kWh net capacity battery pack that supports fast charging from 30% to 80% in approximately 20 minutes under suitable conditions, and it comes equipped with a Level 2 intelligent driving assistance system. Its design follows the brand's Leopard Aesthetics philosophy with a distinctive front fascia, two-tone body options, and specially designed alloy wheels. The launch is part of LEPAS's 2026 Year of Delivery push, with the brand planning to introduce multiple new energy models across SUV and sedan segments over the next three years as it expands from initial deliveries in South Africa and Southeast Asia into core markets including Europe.

British premium brand FREELANDER announced the UAE as its first international market and confirmed its International Brand Launch for September in Abu Dhabi during the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The announcement was made at an industry exchange event hosted by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office at The Orangery. FREELANDER CEO Lucia Mao stated that the UAE marks the starting point of the brand's global expansion and represents a strategically important market for long-term investment. The brand, co-developed by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, highlighted its SIVP intelligent parking system as an example of product innovation tailored to regional needs such as high-temperature environments.

Volkswagen introduced a new compact electric SUV priced at approximately €28,000 as European consumers shift away from gas-powered vehicles. The ID. Cross is now available for order, with a smaller battery version to follow, and it expands Volkswagen's lineup of lower-cost electric vehicles that includes the new Polo, Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq, all to be manufactured in Spain. Sales of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Europe rose 29% through the first five months of this year, accounting for more than one-third of total registrations, aided by government subsidies in Germany and France and elevated fuel prices. The launch comes as Chinese automakers such as BYD and Chery captured 10% of the European market for the first time in May, with Chery's Jaecoo 7 SUV ranking as the third-most-popular model in the UK during the first half of the year. Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said last week the company was surprised by how quickly Chinese manufacturers gained market share, and Europe has become more important as Volkswagen's sales decline in China and US demand efforts face challenges, while the company also discussed restructuring plans that could include cutting up to 100,000 jobs globally and potentially closing German manufacturing facilities.

WeRide has begun on-road testing and localization validation of its one-stage end-to-end intelligent driving solution in Germany, France, Japan and other international markets. The solution, built on WeRide's proprietary end-to-end driving algorithm and co-developed with Bosch, is being validated across diverse traffic regulations, road environments, driving cultures and climate conditions. WeRide is building a global integrated engineering and validation framework spanning research and development, testing, and adaptation for international markets. The unified end-to-end AI architecture integrates perception, prediction, planning and control within a single model, enabling rapid adaptation and enhanced safety redundancy. The solution has already secured design wins across more than 30 production vehicle programs with automakers including Chery and GAC Group.

Mẫu xe FREELANDER 8 của Tập đoàn Chery đã ra mắt hệ thống đỗ xe tự động siêu thông minh SIVP tại Diễn đàn Đầu tư Abu Dhabi tổ chức ở khách sạn The Peninsula Shanghai. Hệ thống SIVP cho phép người dùng quản lý từ xa các chức năng đỗ xe và gọi xe qua ứng dụng di động, được tối ưu hóa cho môi trường nhiệt độ cao tại Trung Đông. Khi đến các địa điểm như khách sạn hay trung tâm thương mại, người dùng có thể để xe tại điểm trả khách và hệ thống sẽ tự động tìm vị trí, tránh chướng ngại vật và đỗ xe. Khi quay lại, người dùng có thể gọi xe qua ứng dụng để xe tự di chuyển đến điểm đón. SIVP là một phần trong hệ sinh thái công nghệ thông minh của FREELANDER 8, vốn còn bao gồm khoang lái thông minh với chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P và Hệ thống phản ứng địa hình thông minh i-ATS. FREELANDER 8 là mẫu xe chiến lược đầu tiên của thương hiệu và dự kiến ra mắt tại Trung Đông, phản ánh cam kết phát triển giải pháp di chuyển thông minh phù hợp với từng khu vực.

FREELANDER, thương hiệu SUV địa hình thông minh cao cấp thuộc Tập đoàn Chery, chính thức hé lộ thiết kế ngoại thất của mẫu xe chiến lược đầu tiên mang tên FREELANDER 8. Phần đầu xe gây ấn tượng với logo dập chìm ba chiều được gia công đục rãnh sâu 4 mm, cụm đèn pha đan xen đạt độ sáng cực đại 5.000 nit với 1,67 triệu tùy chọn màu sắc, cùng nắp ca-pô hai gờ nổi giúp dẫn hướng tầm quan sát. Thân xe kế thừa thiết kế kiểu lâu đài với triết lý “solid base, light top”, đường vai kiểu du thuyền và gương chiếu hậu kiểu lá cờ mang đến tầm quan sát rộng hơn 30%. Phần đuôi xe có cửa sổ tam giác biểu tượng gợi nhắc chữ “F” và “L” từ mẫu Freelander nguyên bản năm 1997, cùng cửa hậu toàn chiều rộng thể hiện triết lý “Càng tối giản, càng tinh tế”. FREELANDER là thương hiệu do Chery và Jaguar Land Rover hợp tác phát triển, đặt mục tiêu có mặt tại hơn 90 quốc gia và hơn 1.100 điểm hiện diện trong vòng 5 năm, với Trung Đông là điểm dừng chân chiến lược đầu tiên.

Chery Group’s FREELANDER brand has detailed the full exterior design of its first strategic nameplate, the FREELANDER 8. The front fascia features a debossed badging with a breakthrough 4mm deep-groove process inspired by European castle stone masonry, a three-layer geometric grille, and signature interlocking headlights delivering 5,000 nits peak brightness and 1.67 million colour combinations. The side profile carries forward the brand’s iconic castle-style body with a yacht-style waistline and flag-style side mirrors offering a 30% larger viewing area. The rear design includes an iconic triangle window inherited from the 1997 original Freelander and a full-width tailgate embodying a less-is-more principle. FREELANDER is a British premium intelligent all-terrain brand co-developed by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, with plans to enter over 90 countries and establish more than 1,100 touchpoints within five years.

Volkswagen plans to reduce its roughly 150 model lines by as much as half as part of a broader restructuring push for deeper savings. The company said a smaller product range and fewer options could reduce complexity and allow development resources to focus on the highest-return segments, though it did not provide a firm timeline or specify which brands would carry most of the reductions. The announcement followed a tense supervisory board meeting where CEO Oliver Blume had been expected to push for doubling job cuts to 100,000 and closing four German plants, but the resulting plan fell short of those expectations with limited detail on additional workforce reductions or factory closures. Volkswagen shares rose as much as 1.5% in early Frankfurt trading on Friday, though the stock remains down about 30% this year. The restructuring has become more urgent as profits in China have fallen, European demand remains below pre-pandemic levels, and U.S. tariffs pressure Audi and Porsche, while Chinese automakers like Chery gain market share in Europe.

Nearly 1,500 units of the LEPAS L8 PHEV have been shipped from Wuhu Port to Italy, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, and Romania. The shipment marks a substantial step in LEPAS's Year of Delivery and its transition from debut to scale in Europe. The L8 PHEV is a five-seat SUV built on the Intelligent LEX Platform, featuring the brand's Leopard Aesthetics design and the LEPAS Super Hybrid system, which delivers a comprehensive range of over 1,300 kilometers and combined fuel consumption as low as 2.38 liters per 100 kilometers. LEPAS, Chery Group's new energy vehicle brand, aims to become the Preferred Brand for Elegant Mobility Life and is expanding its global network across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

LEPAS, Chery Group's mid-to-premium new energy vehicle brand, has shipped its first batch of LEPAS L8 PHEV SUVs to the Middle East from Guangzhou Nansha Port. The shipment is bound for the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, marking the start of what the company calls its global Year of Delivery. The L8 PHEV is a five-seat SUV with a 2800mm wheelbase, a comprehensive range of over 1,300 kilometers, and combined fuel consumption as low as 2.38 liters per 100 kilometers. LEPAS plans to follow this shipment with additional models including the L6 EV, L4 EV, and L6 PHEV, and will launch an upgraded Super Intelligent Valet Parking system in the region within the year. The brand is expanding across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America under its 'Drive Your Elegance' proposition.

Chery Auto har officiellt invigt sin fabrik i Rosslyn, Sydafrika, vilket markerar övergången från importör till lokal tillverkare. Fabriken, som ursprungligen byggdes 1963, kommer att behålla samtliga 692 anställda och skapa nästan 3 000 arbetstillfällen i den industriella kedjan. Produktionen beräknas starta i mitten av nästa år med en årlig kapacitet på 50 000 fordon per skift, och en lokaliseringsgrad på 40 procent planeras till 2028. Samtidigt lanseras det nya varumärket LEPAS i Sydafrika, med modellen LEPAS L6 på väg, som en del av Cherys strategi för högkvalitativ tillväxt på marknaden.

FREELANDER has officially unveiled the FREELANDER 8 First Edition at Aranya, China, alongside the global public premiere of three exclusive paint finishes. The showcase took place during the Aranya Theatre Festival, where FREELANDER serves as Comprehensive Strategic Partner. The three finishes are Dancing Silver in Satin, Lucent Lime in Satin, and Immersive Purple in Gloss, each featuring advanced coating technologies and distinctive design inspirations. The FREELANDER 8 First Edition gained extensive exposure across online and offline touchpoints, drawing strong interest from media, tourists, and residents. The brand, co-developed by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, plans to enter over 90 countries and establish more than 1,100 touchpoints within five years.

China's Nexchip Semiconductor is seeking to raise up to HK$6.98 billion, equivalent to $890.26 million, in a Hong Kong share sale. The chip firm is offering 216.2 million shares at a maximum price of HK$32.30 each, with trading of the H shares expected to begin on July 10. Nexchip plans to use about 53.6% of the proceeds for research and development and optimization of its 22 nm technology platform, and some of the funds for production initiatives based on AI technology. The company, however, sees lower net profit for 2026 compared to a year ago, mainly due to anticipated depreciation costs from its new production facility. Cornerstone investors include a unit of Chinese automotive firm Chery Automobile.

WeRide's proprietary world model, WeRide GENESIS, has been named “Overall Gen-AI Solution of the Year” at the 2026 AI Breakthrough Awards, just one day after receiving the Simulation Innovation Award at the 2026 Automotive Testing Technology International Awards. The back-to-back honors recognize the model's ability to accelerate autonomous driving development through large-scale simulation, training, and validation. WeRide GENESIS reduces data collection and annotation costs by more than 75% and powers the company's end-to-end ADAS solution, WRD 3.0, which has secured mass-production design wins across more than 30 vehicle models with OEMs including Chery and GAC Group. WeRide's autonomous driving products are now deployed in over 40 cities across 12 countries, with fully driverless commercial operations in Guangzhou, Beijing, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.

Chinese automakers including Chery, BYD, Lotus, and Changan are aggressively entering Canada despite a tiny import quota of 49,000 cars annually at a 6.1% tariff, rising to 70,000 over five years. BYD plans to open six dealerships this year and has started compliance procedures to import two passenger cars, while Chery held its first meetings with Canadian dealers in January and aims to launch sales in the fourth quarter. Lotus will open a half dozen dealerships to sell a few hundred cars, and Changan has a team working on a Canada launch. Industry experts say Canada serves as a practice run for the much larger US market, which is effectively closed to Chinese cars by steep tariffs and a connected-vehicle ban, because Canadian consumer tastes and regulations are nearly identical to those in the United States. The moves come amid a diplomatic rift between Canada and the US, with Prime Minister Mark Carney allowing limited Chinese EV imports while distancing the country from Washington.

FREELANDER International, a brand under Chery Group, has officially announced the body dimensions of its first strategic model, the FREELANDER 8. The mid-to-large SUV measures 5,118 mm in length, 2,050 mm in width, and 1,926 mm in height, with optional 22-inch luxury wheels on higher trims. The vehicle is built on a unified global architecture and integrates an intelligent cabin powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip, an Intelligent All-Terrain System, and Super Intelligent Parking technology optimized for high-temperature environments. The announcement comes ahead of the model's upcoming launch in the Middle East, following previews at the Chery International Business Summit in April and the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum in Shanghai on June 11.