Chinese brand Chery to launch Omoda 5 PHEV in Australia

Chery will be the next Chinese brand to attempt to disrupt the Australian auto market, with the car maker following established brands like MG and Great Wall – as well as newcomers like BYD – to our market with the Chery Omoda 5 PHEV.

Chery has been in Australia before, with the brand launching several years ago under a local distribution agreement, attempting to make a name for itself with cut-price petrol-powered cars, including what was then this country’s cheapest new car.

But for this launch – expected in late 2022 or early 2023 – the brand has its sights set on a bigger prize, launching more upscale models through a brand-backed arrangement.

It has already launched an Australian web presence, and been recruiting for local staff, as it prepares for launch.

The halo car for its launch will be the Chery Omoda 5 crossover, which is expected to launch with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, ahead of a full EV version in the future.

Billed as a “new energy vehicle”, the Omoda 5 promises to “set a new standard for hybrid propulsion”, pairing a petrol engine with two electric motors for a combined  240kW in two-wheel drive versions and 338kW in AWD versions.

The system also offers with nine unique driving modes, including single-motor electric only mode, dual motor pure electric performance, and petrol-only direct drive mode.

Other tech details remain scarce for now, but the Chery Omoda 5 is expected to be a plug-in hybrid, rather than a conventional hybrid without a plug, allowing for pure EV driving for limited spells.

“The new hybrid system has a unique operating model that is based, first and foremost, on customers’ needs and driving patterns. In China, this technology officially introduces the next generation of hybrid propulsion to the market,” Chery executive, Tony Liu, says.

“We are also excited to see how our new hybrid technology will lay the foundation for a complete new range of vehicle solutions where we utilise this systems innovations in engine management, transmission and power delivery in many different applications.”