Chery open to US partnerships as China car exporter eyes North America
Chery, China's top car exporter, is open to partnerships with US automakers as it prepares for a Canadian brand launch in early 2026, a senior executive said. The company faces over 100 per cent US tariffs and data security hurdles but is exploring options including 'China-free' vehicles.
Chery, China's largest car exporter, is open to partnerships with US automakers, a senior executive told Reuters on Wednesday, as the company looks to expand in North America following rapid growth in Europe and elsewhere.
Vice President Charlie Zhang said in an interview at Chery's headquarters in the eastern city of Wuhu that the company is making preparations for a brand launch in Canada early next year. Chery sells the Omoda and Jaecoo brands and is one of several Chinese automakers disrupting the global industry with advanced technology and prices that legacy car companies have struggled to match.
Chinese car companies remain effectively locked out of the United States, the world's second-largest auto market, where they face tariffs of more than 100 per cent and data security regulations. Zhang emphasised Chery's flexibility, saying: 'The US, obviously, we are trying to look for different options there. We're very open to different options, even a potential partnership with American automakers.'
Zhang's comments are some of the clearest yet about Chery's American ambitions, although he did not go into specifics about the kind of partnerships he envisions. He said he was confident that Chery would find a way to target the US, and that it would be possible to build a car that was not reliant on Chinese hardware or software. 'Definitely from a technical point of view, we will be able to find a China-free solution in terms of hardware and software,' he said.
Established on the banks of the Yangtze River, Chery's first car rolled off the assembly line in 1999. It was originally known as Cheery and billed itself as a cheerful, low-cost brand. Now it sees itself in the mould of Toyota, synonymous with quality, and Tesla, which is known for its innovation.