Chery to launch Lepas as fourth UK brand
Chinese automotive giant Chery has confirmed it will expand its UK presence even further with the introduction of its Lepas brand in the coming months.
The “new energy” brand, covering EV and plug-in hybrid powertrains was unveiled internationally in late 2025 and will arrive in the UK in the third quarter of 2026.
Chery says Lepas – a portmanteau of leopard, leap and passion – will bring a bolder, more imaginative character to sit alongside its three existing marques, Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo.
Specific models will be confirmed in the coming weeks, but Lepas’s first UK cars are likely to include the L4, L6 and L8 SUVs.
These are all based on the same T1X platform already in use in the Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 5 and Jaecoo 7, as well as the Chery Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8. As such, they can support fully electric powertrains as well as Chery’s “super hybrid” system. This EV-first plug-in setup uses a powerful electric motor and relatively large battery, supported by a 1.5-litre petrol engine.
Current EVs based on the platform offer 201bhp from a single motor sound around 250 miles of range while PHEV models have a similar power output and more than 50 miles of electric-only capability.
Chery says Lepas was created as a new energy brand for Europe “from the outset” and aims to deliver efficiency, “thoughtful design” and advanced technology and comfort.
More details of the firm’s UK plans will be released in a phased introduction that will outline leadership appointments, retailer plans and model line-up over the coming months.
Chery has been China’s largest car exporter for 23 years in a row and the UK is part of its aggressive expansive plans. It set a new record for growth in the UK market last year, securing 5.3% market share in just 18 months through the Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo brands.
