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Chery automotive R&D expansion and security concerns

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-22 23:34 UTC → 2026-09-11 14:30 UTC · added removed

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. According to Gary Lan, CEO of In September 2026, Chery International UK, the facility represents reported significant market momentum, noting over 29,000 vehicle registrations and a long-term investment market share exceeding 2.5% during its first year in the UK. To sustain this growth, the company plans to integrate introduce four new or updated models over the next 12 months, including its first electric vehicle in the UK customer insights into and enhancements to its Chery Super Hybrid (CSH) system. This expansion also follows a previous agreement with Nissan to assemble vehicles at the company’s global R&D activities. 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, such as high-resolution cameras and radar, 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 that its UK operations are “strictly limited to vehicle engineering and development” and asserting that its investment complies with British laws while prioritizing cybersecurity and data privacy. development.”

Versions

  1. 2026-09-11 14:30 UTC Chery automotive R&D expansion and security concerns
  2. 2026-08-22 23:34 UTC Chery automotive R&D expansion and security concerns
  3. 2026-08-21 16:51 UTC Chery automotive R&D expansion in United Kingdom

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