China’s biggest car exporter is set to launch in UK in early 2024 with Qashqai-sized electric SUV called the OMODA 5, which has 201 bhp motor, 64kWh battery and an expected 280 mile WLTP range. There will also be version with PHEV and petrol-only engines, but bosses say: “In general, we will focus on BEV in the future in UK.”

The company is hoping to sell around 10,000 cars a year in the UK – that’s higher than both the Volkswagen ID.3 and Nissan Leaf managed in 2022.

The brand is the product of a company called Chery, which is one of the biggest selling marques in its native China and already exports to Asia, Australia, Africa, Latin America and Middle East. It has a joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover in China to locally produce the Range Rover Evoque, Discovery Sport and Jaguar’s XE, XF and E-Pace models. It claims to have a global automotive R&D team of more than 5,500 people based in China, Germany, the United States and Brazil.

The OMODO 5 is slightly larger than a Kia Niro EV

​The OMODO 5 measures 4,374 mm in length, 1,824 mm wide, and 1,585 mm high, making it around the same size as the best-selling Nissan Qashqai and slightly larger electric rivals such as the MG ZS and Kia Niro EV.

It has a high-tech and quality look about the interior and the petrol model was given a full five-star rating by the independent safety organisation, EuroNCAP.

There is no word on price, but the company say it will be ‘competitive’, which would suggest a starting price of around £38,000 for the electric version. 

Like the other Chinese brands Ora and BYD, Chery is actively looking for UK dealers to distribute the OMODA, rather than taking the direct sales route favoured by brands such as Polestar, Genesis and Tesla.

Ambitious plans would see OMODO outsell favourites such as the Leaf and ID.3