Chinese carmaker Chery is preparing to open a research and development centre in Bedfordshire as it expands its presence in the UK and prepares to develop vehicles specifically for British roads.
The company behind the Jaecoo and Omoda brands said the new facility will open in late autumn at UTAC Millbrook, an established vehicle testing centre used by automotive, engineering and motorsport companies as well as the Ministry of Defence.
The Millbrook site includes more than 70 kilometres of purpose-built test tracks, which Chery plans to use to assess and refine its vehicles under UK driving conditions. The company also expects to use the centre in the future for work involving autonomous driving and artificial intelligence.
Gary Lan, chief executive of Chery’s UK business, said the company’s plans extend beyond simply importing vehicles into the country.
“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,” he said.
The announcement comes as Chery’s brands rapidly increase their share of the British car market. Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed that Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo together accounted for almost 8 percent of UK new-car sales in July, compared with about 3 percent a year earlier.
The China-built Jaecoo 7 also recorded a strong performance, becoming the UK’s best-selling model in March.
Chery currently imports its vehicles into Britain, but that is expected to change. The company has signed an agreement with Nissan to explore production of Chery vehicles at Nissan’s Sunderland plant, potentially marking the start of mass-market Chinese vehicle manufacturing in the UK from 2027.
The carmaker launched its Lepas brand in Britain earlier this year, targeting younger families and adding to its expanding portfolio in the European market.
Kirsty Andrew, vice-president of UTAC UK, said Chery’s new centre represented a significant commitment to vehicle engineering and development in Britain.
She said having a dedicated engineering facility would allow Chery to develop and test vehicles against the specific requirements of UK roads and drivers while making use of UTAC’s testing infrastructure and technical expertise.
UTAC Millbrook, located between London and Birmingham, specialises in testing electric vehicles, battery systems and connected and automated driving technology.
The expansion comes as Chinese carmakers increase their presence across Europe, putting established manufacturers under greater competitive pressure. Chinese companies have benefited from advantages in battery production, lower manufacturing costs and government support for the electric vehicle industry.
Chery said it plans to recruit local workers and create engineering positions in the region, although it has not disclosed the size of its investment or the number of jobs expected to be created.
The new research centre adds another step to Chery’s broader UK expansion as the company moves from being an importer toward becoming a more established part of the British automotive industry.
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