Chinese car brands to make UK debut soon amid success of BYD, Jaecoo and more

The V27, a square-shouldered, five-seat SUV, will act as its flagship and first model for the UK market.

Chery International said the brand would combine “spacious, award-winning interior, off-road capability and an advanced electrified powertrain”.

The iCAUR V27 will likely draw comparisons to the Land Rover and the Jaecoo 7, which has been dubbed by some as the “Temu Range Rover”.

iCAUR will make use of Chery Automobile’s new Research and Development Centre of Excellence at UTAX Millbrook.

Work will take place here to further refine the V27 to be suited for UK roads as Chery International looks to replicate success seen by its sister brands.

Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda have quickly taken the UK by storm, having registered more than 123,000 vehicles so far this year, capturing more than seven per cent of the total market.

The Jaecoo 7 was the UK’s best-selling model in September, with more than 11,000 registrations, ranking it third overall this year.

Chery International’s fourth brand, Lepas, made its UK debut in recent months, having sold almost 1,000 vehicles already.

The launch of the iCAUR will coincide with Chery Automobile’s 30th anniversary and the completion of Chery International UK’s third year in Britain.

It will also come to the UK with expert recognition, having won the Best Interior Design Award in the Premium Car Category at the 2026 Torino Automotive Design Awards.

iCAUR will operate as a standalone brand in the UK, with a dedicated team to ensure it has a long-term presence in the market.

A full launch programme will be unveiled in the coming months, while it plans to unveil a new model, the V25, at the iCAUR International User Summit next week.

Another Chinese car brand, Avatr, will make its debut in the European market next year in the latest step of its global expansion.

The Avatr 06T and 07L will make their European debut next month, with an initial launch in Norway and Spain, before reaching other markets.

Avatr is already active in 70 countries and regions, with almost 300,000 sales. It has a stretch goal of being in 110 regions by 2030, with overseas registrations accounting for more than 50 per cent of total sales.

Justin Li, head of Avatr overseas business, stated: “Avatr has been a global brand from the very beginning.

“Over the next three years, six models will be launched in Europe spanning mid‑size SUVs, large SUVs and shooting‑brake body styles.”

Avatr is owned by Changan and CATL. Changan is already present in the UK as a standalone brand, while CATL is one of the largest producers of electric vehicle batteries in the world.