Another new Chinese car brand has confirmed that it will launch in the UK later this year, following the initial success of its parent company in 2025.
Chery International has confirmed that it will launch the Lepas, a new energy vehicle brand that will hit UK roads later in 2026.
Lepas, which combines “leopard”, “leap” and “passion”, was introduced to an international audience in mid-2025, with parent company Chery International looking to expand its UK presence.
It confirmed that Lepas would be “bolder, more imaginative, and filled with smart technology and design”, which has become a staple of Chinese brands.
Chinese brands, like Chery, have made a massively positive impression on British drivers over the last 18 months with impressive electric vehicles and high-tech vehicles.
Lepas has confirmed that its first model will launch in the UK later this year in the third quarter of the year.
Lepas will act as the fourth brand to join Chery International’s fleet of marques as the brand continues to evolve its presence in the UK.
Chery, as a standalone brand, launched in the summer of 2025, and was preceded by Jaecoo in January 2025 and Omoda in August the year prior.
Chery International will launch a new sister brand to Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda
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CHERY
All three brands have proved successful with a UK audience, recording impressive sales totals and crucial partnerships.
The Jaecoo 7 has rapidly become one of the best-selling hybrids on the market, recording almost 3,000 sales in December alone.
Despite being on the UK market for a handful of months, Chery sold 5,517 vehicles in 2025, beating out the likes of Alfa Romeo, DS Automobiles, Jaguar, Smart and Subaru.
Its sister brands also performed well, with Jaecoo recording an impressive 28,232 sales, worth 1.4 per cent, while Omoda registered just under 20,000 new registrations.
The first Lepas vehicle is expected to launch in the UK in Q3 of 2026
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LEPAS
Launch plans for the Lepas brand were unveiled internally during January’s Retailer Conference for Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda.
Chery International added that it had seen the fastest-ever rise from zero to five per cent of the market share the UK has ever seen.
It took the three marques just 18 months to achieve an impressive 5.3 per cent group market share, highlighting the impressive adoption rate from UK drivers.
Further details of the Lepas brand will be revealed in the coming weeks, which will include full details of the first model set for sale in the UK.
The Jaecoo 7 PHEV has already become one of the best-selling vehicles on the market | JAECOO
Lepas will roll the brand out in a phased approach, featuring leadership appointments, retailer plans and the brand’s ambition to establish itself as a “distinctive new presence in the UK market”.
Sister brand Chery also has lofty goals for 2026, which will feature new electric and hybrid launches, including its flagship Tiggo 9.
Farrell Hsu, Chery UK Country Director, said: “The Year of the Horse is all about energy, progress and forward momentum – and that’s exactly the spirit we’re seeing from UK drivers with Chery.
“Our first months on the market have shown that when you combine technology, safety and reassurance, people take notice.”
