Chery’s User Summit in China comes with a free crystal ball for the car industry

As you may have noticed, I have landed in China – the other side of the world – for a cultural and car industry immersification with a twist. While it’s taken me a while to navigate around the corporate jargon of “Co-Create, Co-Define”, “Enter Super Next”, and even “One Car Two Vibes”, which also was joined by “Next Cool”, I think I’ve cracked what Chery’s trying to say – they have a crystal ball for the car industry, and don’t worry they have sorted the next-generation of robotics too.

The size and scale of the Chery Global User Summit has to be seen to be believed

No, that’s not me being indoctrinated into their corporate messaging. In the last few days of joining tech expos, test drives and even some evening seminars, there’s one thing that’s, erm, crystal clear – Chery has seen into the future, and is making tomorrow’s cars, today. Chery, if you’re reading – that messaging line is on me.

Chery Group, which was founded in 1997 in Wuhu, China, is on a mission. So much so that in 2025 alone (from 1 January to now) they’ve sold two million cars. Two million. Just think about that for a second. JLR’s financials, which handily went out a few days ago, states it sold 400,898 cars globally in its last financial year. Chery, which works with JLR on a few joint ventures (including the new Freelander!) is five-times the size… And counting.

The striking OMODA 4 unveil - it looks to have been tailor-made for a European audience

So, what is it that’s so forward-thinking? I can’t put my finger on one thing, and that’s because it’s all encompassing. It’s the software-defined vehicles, it’s the development in solid state batteries, it’s the fact that Chery, which is operational in over 80 countries, develops its own powertrains, which are the most thermally efficient in the world. Its new plug-in hybrid has a base line of circa 47 mpg. I do hope it’s coming to the next-generation of JAECOO 7 SHS and OMODA 9 SHS – firm favourites with me.

Then you get to safety. In 1997, the foundations of Chery started from one building in this small town in Wuhu, about four hours from Shanghai by car, or two by bullet train. Today, it has a vast expanse of the city, from testing facilities to test tracks, R&D centres and labs – and that’s just its footprint in China. It has plenty more globally, with a UK centre for R&D on the cards for 2026.

Witnessing a live head-on crash test was something I will always remember

Chery is responsible for 54 5* safety accolades and counting and watching two new CHERY TIGGO 9s smash into each other at a 60 mph force was genuinely something to stand back and think about. This seven-seater, which is on sale in the UK soon (or so I’ve been told) stood up to quite the thump and the six-second

pressure-holding technology was a true sight to be seen. The b-pillars didn’t move, and the doors, which presented the handles for occupants to get out easily, were still in one piece.

There’s robotics, of which its humanoid robot, named Mornine, stood on stage and told us welcome speeches in multiple different languages – a technology that Chery Group’s new vehicle operating system also has, with its multi-language voice assistant. I think what Chery’s trying to do is make our lives easier, safer and focus on the joy of what’s important: sharing experiences with the people we love (those in the passenger seats).

Nothing to see here…just a walking, talking, humanoid robot and her dog…

If you can look past some of the cringey messaging, what this company distils into is clear – crystal clear. It’s making a range of vehicles that makes our lives easier, and it’s doing it with even more pace and conviction than before. What we’ve seen from Chery and its group brands to redevelop and readdress certain elements, based on real-world feedback, doesn’t just say Chery: open to feedback, but that it’s Chery: help us to help you drive better cars. And thankfully, with Chery Group and its multiple brands, there should be an SUV / crossover that suits every needs, from fun, entry-level EVs to luxurious, mile-munching range-toppers.

There are so many great cars and brands from Chery that are yet to debut in the UK. iCar would be number one on my wish list - just look at it!!!

Now, I must “Enter Super Next” into the next video where I show you even more of what Chery Group and its brands – CHERY and OMODA & JAECOO – are bringing to the UK market.

As CHERY told us during day one of the conference “the future is now”