Chery Executive Vice President Zhang Guibing says the company’s early attempts to sell cars outside China were held back by limited understanding of local customers and road conditions. Speaking in Wuhu, he recalled that Chery exported only 10 vehicles in 2001 and failed to gain traction in several markets. The company responded by learning about conditions in each country rather than abandoning its international ambitions.
Chery’s overseas reach has since expanded to more than 130 countries, according to Zhang. Export volumes rose to 277,000 vehicles around two decades after the company’s first shipments, then climbed to 1.14 million between 2021 and 2024, the article reports.
The company expects further growth in 2026, setting a target of 2 million vehicle sales outside China. The article attributes much of the recent momentum to demand for Chery Group brands, including Omoda Jaecoo, Exeed, Luxeed, Exlantix, Lepas and iCar, with Europe identified as a particularly strong region. Zhang also said he believes Chery is ahead of other Chinese brands, citing its brand image and cultural presence as factors in its progress.