Chery targets top sales for debut Omoda car in UK

author: FutureCar Staff    

Omoda, a car brand from China's automotive giant Chery, is aiming to achieve 15,000 sales of the Omoda 5 in the UK next year. The SUV is set to launch in the UK at the end of 2023 and has the potential to outsell established competitors like the Skoda Karoq, Honda HR-V, and Citroen C3 Aircross.

To support its sales goals, Omoda is currently recruiting franchised dealers to establish a network of over 50 showrooms in the UK. These showrooms will be ready to promote the brand to car buyers at the beginning of 2024. Pre-order books are expected to open by the end of this year, and Omoda has already been in discussions with leasing companies.

The company's target is to register 15,000 Omoda 5 vehicles in the UK during the first year. This will include a mix of fleet and retail sales, with both petrol and full electric options available from the launch. The petrol version will be priced between £20,000 and £25,000, while the electric version's pricing is yet to be confirmed, but reports suggest it could be around £45,000.

Omoda has decided not to use the Chery brand name for its cars in the UK and Europe, considering it "too traditional." Instead, it believes that the name Omoda, derived from Oxygen and Modern, will help establish a futuristic brand image for its customers.

The brand manager, Wenlong Liu, highlighted that Chery is the largest exporter in China and emphasized the competitiveness of Omoda's products. The cars will feature advanced functions, including ADAS for safety, and will be offered at an affordable price.

Omoda has provided details about the Omoda 5, which will be equipped with a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivering 197PS. An electric version will also be available at launch. Although no official specifications have been released for the UK-bound EV, Omoda showcased the car at the Shanghai motor show, revealing a 61kWh battery pack with a range of 280 miles, a power output of 224PS, and a charging time of around 35 minutes from 10% to 80%.

All Omoda models are SUVs, and the company has plans to introduce a large SUV, the C9, in the UK by the end of 2024. This will be followed by a compact C3 SUV in 2025, both of which will be available exclusively in full electric versions.

Customers will have the option to purchase Omoda vehicles online or through dealerships. In 2022, Skoda UK sold just under 9,000 Karoqs.

Chery already exports vehicles under the Omoda subsidiary to South America, Russia, and South Africa. The brand is entering a highly competitive market in the UK, where other Chinese brands like MG and Great Wall's Ora have been selling vehicles since last year. Additionally, brands such as BYD, Lynk and Co, and Nio are also preparing to introduce their electric vehicle offerings to UK customers.

FutureCar Staff