Chery to open research and development centre in England

Chinese automotive manufacturer Chery has announced plans to open a new research and development centre in Bedfordshire, England, by late autumn 2026. The facility will be located within the UTAC Millbrook vehicle testing site.

The new centre aims to develop vehicles specifically tailored to British driving conditions and will focus on researching artificial intelligence and autonomous driving technologies. This expansion follows rapid growth for Chery and its brands, Jaecoo and Omoda, which captured nearly 8 per cent of the UK market in July.

This move is part of a broader long-term strategy to establish a local presence in the United Kingdom. Chery has previously reached an agreement with Nissan to explore manufacturing its vehicles at the Nissan plant in Sunderland, with mass production potentially beginning in 2027.