Tag Archives: UK

News

Chery Arrives in the UK: VW’s Value Crown Is Officially Under Attack

The British car market has a new arrival, and it hasn’t come quietly. At the O2 in London – an arena more accustomed to dodgy ‘90s comeback tours and overpriced pints – Chinese giant Chery officially launched its self-titled brand into the UK. The target? Volkswagen. Yes, the people who gave us the Golf, the Tiguan, and dieselgate.

If the name sounds like it was plucked straight from a pick-and-mix bag, that’s because it is: Chery is supposedly derived from “cheery.” But behind the cutesy branding is one of China’s biggest carmakers, a company that shifted nearly 20,000 Omoda and Jaecoo SUVs in the UK already this year. Now, with Chery-badged cars, it’s going after the mainstream.

The Opening Gambit: Tiggo Time

First up are two SUVs: the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8. The names sound like cheap Bluetooth speakers, but the pitch is serious.

  • Tiggo 7: A family SUV gunning for the Volkswagen Tiguan. Its ace card? Being the UK’s cheapest plug-in hybrid at £29,995. Can’t be bothered with charging? The petrol kicks off at just £24,995 – a full fiver cheaper than a mid-spec iPhone.
  • Tiggo 8: A bigger, seven-seat SUV. Price tag? Just over £28,500 for the petrol, or £33,500 if you want the plug-in hybrid. That makes it the cheapest full-size seven-seater in the UK. Yes, cheaper than buying seven train tickets.

Both land in September, fresh from 25 shiny new dealerships.

The Range to Come

Chery isn’t messing around. After the 7 and 8, there’s a smaller Tiggo 4 crossover (around £20k) and the Tiggo 9, a posh, PHEV-powered flagship SUV topping £40k. All were on display at the O2 launch, like some kind of Tiggo family reunion.

The line-up will eventually stretch from Golf-sized hatches to nearly £50k SUVs, with petrol, plug-in hybrid and full EVs all on the cards. No city cars, though – Chery says Brits don’t want them. (Tell that to every Fiat 500 driver in Shoreditch.)

Why Now?

According to Chery UK boss Gary Lan, the brand has spent two decades prepping for this moment – learning to build cars that pass European regulations, don’t fall apart, and hold decent resale values. The pitch is simple: value. With new cars under £40k now an endangered species, Chery reckons it’s spotted a gap big enough to drive an SUV through.

Dealers, Dealers Everywhere

Rather than share the 80-strong Omoda and Jaecoo network, Chery is setting up its own standalone dealers. Sytner Group is already on board – its first time partnering with a Chinese brand – and the plan is to grow to 120 outlets by 2026.

And profitability? Chery says its cars don’t need discounts or deposit contributions because the margins are already baked in. Translation: no desperate pre-reg bargains, but stronger residuals. If true, that’s not just cheery – that’s practically unheard of.

The Long Game

Chery isn’t ruling out building cars here, but don’t hold your breath. First comes a UK R&D centre, then maybe, one day, a factory. In the meantime, the brand’s betting on Brits’ openness to new names. And if nearly 20,000 Omodas and Jaecoos can already find homes, perhaps it’s not such a mad gamble.

Chery’s launch feels less like a cautious toe-dip and more like a cannonball into Volkswagen’s swimming pool. The prices are sharp, the dealer backing is strong, and the appetite for value is there.

So, is Chery about to become the UK’s next household car brand? Too soon to tell. But with a £25k SUV that undercuts the Tiguan, VW might want to keep a very close eye on who’s raiding the pick-and-mix aisle.

Source: Chery

News

Cadillac to Launch in UK as GM Expands European EV Line-Up

General Motors is gearing up for a major return to the UK market, with Cadillac set to spearhead a broader push into Europe. The move marks a pivotal step in the company’s electric vehicle strategy, with a multi-model launch planned and more brands to follow.

Speaking exclusively to Autocar at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, GM Europe CEO Pere Brugal confirmed that right-hand-drive versions of the all-electric Cadillac Lyriq are in final testing stages in Ireland. The Lyriq, priced from €79,000 (£68,000), has so far been limited to a handful of continental markets including Germany, France, Sweden and Switzerland. Now, the UK is next in line.

“We have a plan for these to come,” Brugal said. “It is one of the markets we’re focusing on right now. It’s coming close.”

But Cadillac won’t arrive alone. GM aims to launch with a two-model portfolio, signalling a more serious commitment than a one-off release. While Brugal stopped short of naming the second vehicle, the upcoming Optiq—another premium electric SUV—appears to be the most likely candidate. Due for global release in early 2026, the Optiq’s timing would align well with a UK rollout.

Beyond the Lyriq and Optiq, GM has broader ambitions. Brugal hinted at the potential arrival of Chevrolet models such as the Blazer EV and Equinox EV, depending on regulatory harmonisation between the US and Europe. Emission standards and safety regulations currently pose hurdles for certain American models entering the European market.

“If the regulations between the US and Europe harmonise, it will make our life easier,” Brugal said. “That will increase the range of options for customers.”

Looking further ahead, Brugal did not rule out the possibility of a Europe-specific GM model. With GM already tailoring cars for regional needs in South America and Asia, the logic could soon extend to European buyers.

“In the future, can it be that we create a car just for Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or Korea? Maybe it can be,” he said.

GM’s new European division, based in Zurich, was established in 2021 as a clean-slate operation to focus exclusively on electric mobility. While progress has been measured—Cadillac’s current offering is still limited—the strategy is gaining momentum, especially in the UK.

Notably, GM is opting for a split retail strategy. Corvette, already available in the UK in Stingray, E-Ray and ZR1 variants, will continue to be sold through traditional dealers such as Arnold Clark. But Cadillac will take a different route, relying on an agency-based, direct-to-consumer (D2C) model in major markets.

“We don’t envisage a future where we’re going to be mixing Cadillac with Corvette,” Brugal explained. “Corvette has its own DNA, and it’s going to be staying as a standalone brand.”

Cadillac’s European presence will be bolstered by pop-up “experience stores” and an online-first retail approach designed to immerse buyers in the brand and its electric identity. Smaller markets like Ireland and Norway will follow a traditional distribution model, while larger territories—including the UK—will lead with D2C.

“Our D2C is focused on creating impact and explaining who we are as a brand,” Brugal said. “It’s about making sure that people understand Cadillac and explore the car.”

With right-hand-drive Lyriqs nearly ready and more models in the pipeline, GM’s long-anticipated European return is finally accelerating. For UK buyers, that means the wait for a truly American luxury EV alternative is almost over.

Source: Autocar

News

GWM Strikes First as UK EV Grant Sparks Industry Uncertainty

The UK government’s long-awaited Electric Car Grant has finally arrived, pledging £650 million ($876 million) in funding to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The initiative promises consumer grants of £1,500 ($2,000) or £3,750 ($5,000) for eligible EVs, aimed at bringing greener transport within reach of the average British driver. But with no official list of qualifying models released yet, uncertainty is already rippling through the automotive sector.

One brand not content to wait in limbo is Great Wall Motor (GWM). The Chinese manufacturer—known for its increasingly stylish and competitively priced EVs—has launched its own aggressive discount strategy to win over British buyers. Effective immediately, all versions of the GWM Ora 03 are eligible for a £3,750 “Green Grant,” mirroring the top tier of the government scheme.

The timing is no coincidence. GWM’s move follows similar action from rival Chinese EV maker Leapmotor, which announced an identical discount for its compact T03 city car. But GWM’s Ora 03, already praised for its strong value proposition, now emerges as one of the most affordable and capable EVs on sale in the UK.

Prices for the Ora 03 now start at just £21,245 ($33,700). For that, buyers get a 48 kWh battery and a claimed 193 miles (310 km) of range. In a segment where price and range are everything, that’s a compelling package. The discount also puts the Ora 03 in direct competition with the likes of the Hyundai Inster and upcoming Renault 5—two European favorites now facing an aggressive Chinese challenger.

The mid-range 03 Pro has seen its price cut from £28,995 ($34,000). It steps up to a 63 kWh battery with an impressive 260 miles (418 km) of range. At the top of the range sits the 03 GT, now priced at £29,245 (~$39,400). It features the same powertrain as the Pro but adds luxury touches such as massaging and ventilated front seats, an electric sunroof, and even launch control—features unheard of at this price point just a few years ago.

While GWM’s price cuts are sure to tempt many budget-conscious EV buyers, their eligibility for the government grant remains uncertain. According to Autocar, criteria for inclusion in the scheme go beyond price and emissions. Manufacturers must be part of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), committing to strict carbon reduction targets. Furthermore, eligibility may depend on the carbon intensity of the vehicle’s production process—including where the car and its batteries are manufactured.

This could spell trouble for many Chinese and other Asian-built vehicles, regardless of their affordability or performance. With the UK government favoring cleaner production chains and regional sourcing, brands like GWM could be left out—despite offering compelling products that align with the country’s broader EV adoption goals.

For now, though, GWM isn’t waiting around. With uncertainty clouding the rollout of the official EV grant program, the brand is carving its own path—and potentially reshaping the entry-level EV landscape in the UK.

Source: Reuters