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4 clusters · 11 sources · 24 days · First seen · Last updated

Chery automotive R&D expansion and security concerns

Overview

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

The centre is intended to develop vehicles tailored to British driving conditions, focusing on areas such as chassis dynamics, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and the tuning of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Engineering teams will utilize UTAC Millbrook’s infrastructure, including specialized test tracks and battery testing laboratories, to address local requirements like narrow lanes and high traffic density.

This expansion follows Chery’s growth in the UK market and follows a 2024 homologation joint venture with the UTAC Group. In September 2026, Chery reported significant market momentum, noting over 29,000 vehicle registrations and a market share exceeding 2.5% during its first year in the UK. To sustain this growth, the company plans to introduce four new or updated models over the next 12 months, including its first electric vehicle in the UK and enhancements to its Chery Super Hybrid (CSH) system. This expansion also follows a previous agreement with Nissan to assemble vehicles at the Sunderland plant.

In August 2026, the project faced scrutiny regarding national security. Phil Ingram, a former Colonel in the British Army Intelligence Corps, raised concerns that the facility’s proximity to the UTAC Millbrook site—which is used by the UK Ministry of Defence for testing military vehicles—poses a risk. Ingram warned that sensors on modern electric vehicles could potentially collect sensitive data, noting that China’s National Intelligence Law requires companies to cooperate with state intelligence agencies. Chery Automobile has denied these allegations, stating its UK operations are “strictly limited to vehicle engineering and development.”

Entities

Chery Automobile · Chery · UTAC Millbrook · Nissan · UTAC Millbrook

Timeline

  1. about 9 hours ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Chery expands UK presence with new models and R&D centre

    Chery is expanding its UK operations by launching four new models, including its first EV, and opening a new R&D centre at UTAC Millbrook to localize product development.

  2. 20 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Chery Automobile research center near UK military site sparks espionage concerns

    A former UK intelligence officer warned that a new Chery Automobile research center near a British Ministry of Defence testing site could pose espionage risks due to advanced vehicle sensor technology.

  3. 21 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Chery Automobile to open UK R&D center at UTAC Millbrook

    Chery Automobile will open a new R&D Centre of Excellence at UTAC Millbrook in late 2026, focusing on ADAS and chassis dynamics tailored for UK road conditions.

  4. 24 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 5 sources
    Chery to open research and development centre in England

    Chinese automaker Chery will open a new R&D centre in Bedfordshire by late 2026 to develop vehicles for the UK market and advance autonomous driving technology.

Sources

aden-city.net · albiladpress.com · auto.blog.rs · automotivepowertraintechnologyinternational.com · autonomousvehicleinternational.com · bienpublic.com · dailymail.co.uk · estrepublicain.fr · independent.co.uk · industryeurope.com · ladepeche.fr

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history