Chery desires to introduce sedans to Australia, whilst their recognition dwindles in an more and more SUV-hungry market.
Sedans, at the least these constructed by Japanese, Korean and European manufacturers, have been slowly disappearing from Australia as gross sales decline and prospects shift to utes and SUVs – as evidenced by the latest axing of fashions just like the Mazda 6, Volkswagen Passat and Volvo S60, amongst others.
In distinction, the introduction of latest sedan fashions has primarily been led by Chinese language producers, with MG promoting the MG 5 and shortly introducing the MG 7 (technically a liftback), BYD promoting the Seal and contemplating one other sedan, and now Chery exhibiting curiosity.
“I’m wondering if a part of the explanation that section has been shrinking is as a result of the opponents are leaving,” Chery Australia chief working officer Lucas Harris instructed CarExpert.
CarExpert can prevent hundreds on a brand new automotive. Click on right here to get an amazing deal.
ABOVE: BYD Seal and MG 7
“So if there’s not as many appropriate choices, is that naturally shrinking that section? There’s solely actually one primary competitor.”
This competitor is nearly definitely the Toyota Camry, which stays Australia’s top-selling sedan, with 4259 models delivered to date in 2025. It’s trailed by the Tesla Mannequin 3 with 3715 and the BYD Seal with 1609, however naturally, your entire medium passenger automotive section pales compared to SUVs.
Even if you happen to lump mid-size vehicles with small and huge vehicles, inclusive of sedans, hatches and wagons, that’s solely round 53,000 gross sales throughout the primary half of 2025. In distinction, mid-size SUVs alone have notched simply over 149,000 gross sales.
Chery Australia’s present lineup, together with the now-separate Omoda Jaecoo model, is comprised solely of SUVs.
ABOVE: Fulwin A9L
“I definitely would advocate very strongly for us to have the ability to deliver sedan choices. We’ve acquired them globally, however left-hand drive, so I believe if we are able to do a very good job with what we’re [currently] given in right-hand drive, then possibly our associates in R&D might take into account giving us a sedan in right-hand drive,” Mr Harris added.
Globally and throughout all its manufacturers, Chery provides at the least six sedans, albeit in left-hand drive. SUVs nonetheless dominate its lineups, however there are sedan fashions that might conceivably be engineered on the market in right-hand drive markets.
There are additionally a number of completely different powertrains accessible, together with petrol (Chery Arrizo 5 and Arrizo 8), plug-in hybrid (Chery Fulwin A8 and Fulwin A9L) and battery-electric (Exeed Sterra ES).
Chery chief engineer David Xianqiang Lu instructed CarExpert that whereas there would nonetheless be a deal with SUVs, the model is open to introducing world sedan fashions to Australia.
ABOVE: 2025 Exeed Sterra ES
“All of us see the pattern in sedans dropping and SUVs growing, so it’s apparent that each firm is focusing extra on the SUV,” he mentioned.
“However globally, we are able to see we’re making an increasing number of sedans for world markets. I might say we’re undoubtedly within the analysis section, finding out the potential, doing the enterprise evaluation to see if it’s worthy to do this [in Australia].
“Chery is simply stepping into the right-hand facet of enterprise, we additionally see that general the right-hand drive facet of the enterprise group is rising. If there may be a gorgeous enterprise case, we are able to put it in in a short time.”
Chery is at present engaged on increasing into different segments too, with work at present underway to deliver ute fashions to Australia. The primary of those fashions is anticipated to reach within the second half of 2026.
MORE: All the pieces Chery
