Chery accelerates European expansion through partnerships, not new factories

Chery expands in Europe via partnerships with existing manufacturers, aiming for local assembly and 200,000 annual vehicles by 2029, boosting sales sixfold.
Chinese automotive giant Chery is accelerating its European expansion with a pragmatic approach—instead of building new factories, the company is seeking partnerships with existing manufacturers. This strategy aims to establish a faster market foothold while reducing costs.According to top management, the key objective is to find available production capacity and establish local assembly. France is among the potential countries under consideration, though negotiation details remain undisclosed.The strategy is already partially underway: Chery is collaborating with the Ebro brand and utilizing the former Nissan plant in Barcelona. Production there is expected to ramp up to 200,000 vehicles annually by 2029. This demonstrates that Chinese companies aren’t merely entering the European market but are actively integrating into its industrial framework.The results speak for themselves: Chery’s European sales surged nearly sixfold in a year, surpassing 120,000 vehicles. Notably, almost half of the company’s global sales now come from markets outside China.An additional move will be the launch of the new Lepas brand in Europe, further intensifying competition with local and Korean manufacturers. The European market is evolving rapidly: Chinese brands are no longer just visitors but full-fledged players with their own strategic vision.