From Export Leader to Global Ninth, Chery Reveals New Benchmark for Chinese Automotive Industry at Chengdu Auto Show

August 21, the 29th Chengdu International Automobile Exhibition officially opened. Chery Group, themed "Chinese Car, Global Champion", brought 38 models from its five brands Chery, Exeed, Jetour, iCAR, and Vantec to Hall 5 of the China Western International Expo City. Among them, the Chery brand exhibited 12 models. Fengyun A9 and Fengyun T7, the "Visual Twin Stars", appeared on stage together. The QQ3 Modern Edition started the experience session, and the new benchmark for global quality family sedans, Arrizo 7, made its global debut.

[Li Xueyong, Executive Vice President of Chery Automobile Co., Ltd.]

This press conference, in the past, was merely a routine product showcase. But placed at this time node of August 2026, the significance is completely different — one month ago, Chery just obtained a report card sufficient enough to rewrite the narrative of China's automotive industry.

Global Ninth, New Benchmark for Chinese Automotive Industry

According to statistics compiled by CPCA Secretary-General Cui Dongshu based on data from organizations such as OICA, from January to June 2026, Chery Group's global sales share reached 4.1%, ranking ninth globally alongside Ford USA. This is the first time Chery has entered the top ten in global car company sales. At the same time, BYD ranked sixth with 4.8% share, and Geely Group ranked seventh with 4.6%. For the first time, three Chinese car companies appeared simultaneously in the top ten global sales list. The three Chinese brands accounted for a combined 13.5% of the global market share.

The top five car companies were Toyota (11%), Volkswagen (8.1%), Hyundai Kia (7.6%), Stellantis (6.0%) and Renault Nissan (5.4%), while General Motors ranked eighth with 4.5%.

Five years ago, the top ten on this list were almost monopolized by traditional giants from Japan, Germany, the US, and South Korea. In the first half of 2026, although Toyota still ranked first with about 5.39 million vehicles, it declined by 2.8% year-on-year — this is the first time in two years that Toyota has seen a year-on-year decline in global sales for the first half of the year. Volkswagen Group's sales in the first half reached 4.126 million vehicles, down 6.3% year-on-year, widening the gap with Toyota to 1.26 million vehicles. A common reason for the collective slowdown of traditional giants is being squeezed by local brands in the Chinese market.

Meanwhile, the collective breakthrough of Chinese car companies is rewriting the rules. Chery Group sold 1.358 million vehicles in the first half of the year, up 7.7% year-on-year, setting a historic high. Exports reached 943,817 vehicles, up 71.5% year-on-year, with exports accounting for nearly 70%. From the Export Champion to the Global Top Ten, Chery's global breakthrough is becoming a sample for high-quality Chinese automotive globalization.

From "Export First" to "Global Ninth", Quantity Accumulates into Quality

Chery has maintained "Export First" for 23 years. As of the end of July, Chery's global cumulative car users surpassed 20.16 million, of which overseas cumulative users exceeded 6.99 million. For every 3 Chery owners, about 1 is from overseas. Today, for every 5 cars exported from China, 1 is from Chery.

In July 2026, Chery Group exported 202,533 vehicles, up 70.1% year-on-year. This is not only a new Chinese car monthly export record for five consecutive months, but also the first car company in the history of China's automotive industry to break 200,000 vehicles in a single month of exports. Converted, on average, a "Made by Chery" vehicle is sent to the global market every 16 seconds. From January to July this year, Chery cumulatively exported 1.146 million vehicles, up 71.2% year-on-year.

But more worth attention than the numbers is the change in structure. Europe is becoming an important engine for Chery's global growth. In the first half of the year, Chery cumulatively sold 174,000 vehicles in Europe, up 212% year-on-year; among them, new energy models accounted for 86,000 vehicles, up 385% year-on-year, nearly half the total. In the UK market, Chery entered the top two of the new car sales list for all brands and all markets for four consecutive months. Taking root in the European market, the most stringent in global standards, marks that Chery's globalization has entered a new stage from "selling to more countries" to "entering higher threshold markets".

Meanwhile, Chery is advancing from a participant in the global automotive industry to a rule maker. In June 2026, the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) announced in Detroit, USA, that Chery Automobile officially became a member of the organization's board of directors, possessing voting rights, becoming the third Asian car company to obtain this qualification. From product export to standard participation, this is a key benchmark for the depth of a car company's globalization.

Chengdu Auto Show: A Collective "Global Car" Roadshow

Every car exhibited in Hall 5 of the Chengdu Auto Show is almost labeled with the same tag: "Global".

Fengyun T7 is Chery's first native global model in the Smart Electric Era. Chery Executive Vice President Li Xueyong's definition on this is clear: A true global car is not developed domestically first and then changed for export, but anchored globally from the start of R&D. The homologous model of Fengyun T7 has been presold in South Africa and launched in Thailand, and will subsequently enter markets such as the EU, Australia/New Zealand, UK — tested on real road conditions in multiple countries globally first, then returned to the domestic market. The new car presale price is RMB 109,900 to 129,900, with presale orders breaking 16,787 units in 9 days.

Arrizo 7 made its global debut at this auto show. The new car draws inspiration from the dynamic changes of water, forming the "Dynamic Water Momentum" design language, offering two power choices: C-DM Super Energy Electric Hybrid and Kunpeng Fuel Version. Designed for the global market from the R&D stage, completing all temperature zone and all road condition testing. Fengyun A9L ULTRA AWD version appeared on stage together, equipped with Snow Leopard AWD, Falcon 700 Driving Assistance and Lingxi Smart Cockpit 2.0. QQ3 Modern Edition started the experience session, integrating the Neo Retro design concept.

On the technical level, Chery built a "Tech Ecosystem Island" theme space at the exhibition booth. Through physical disassembly, immersive experiments, interactive participation, etc., technical parameters were transformed into perceptible experiences. The scene set up a Rhino Battery Safety Experience Special Line, where visitors could watch battery penetration, cell extrusion then soaking in water limit safety demonstrations. The booth also set up a popularization space "Chery Future Classroom" for teenagers. In addition, Chery Group's official modification platform Shanyi Tech made its debut at the Ruixiang Life Ecological Space Trend Modification District.

Final Thoughts:

From Export First to Global Ninth, Chery took 23 years. In these 23 years, it completed the paradigm shift from "Chinese cars sold globally" to "Cars made by global standards sold back to China".

At the 2026 Chengdu Auto Show, the Chery brand exhibited 12 models, each is a "Native Global Car". The five brands' 38 models appeared together, showcasing not only the product lineup but also a globalization system that has already been tested and proven.

Global Ninth is not the end point. When a Chinese car company stands in the top ten of global sales, every car it exhibits at the auto show takes on meaning beyond the product itself.