You might have observed Omoda Jaecoo showrooms are beginning to pop up across the nation, however simply what is that this unfamiliar auto model?
Successfully, it’s a sister model to Chinese language model Chery, and whereas Omoda Jaecoo autos can be bought in separate showrooms, some dealerships will provide each Chery and Omoda Jaecoo franchises.
There’s some overlap between the 2 manufacturers, however Omoda Jaecoo chief industrial officer Roy Muñoz defined the distinction.
“I’d name it subsequent step up from Chery,” he defined to CarExpert.
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Inside this new model, there are autos badged simply as Jaecoos, with Omoda-badged autos to observe. Mr Muñoz says these will complement one another.
“Omoda is extra the crossover SUV, whereas the Jaecoos are extra the rugged, luxurious SUVs,” he defined.
“So crossover that means typically with the coupe styling, swooping rear roofline.”
So far, Omoda Jaecoo gives solely the Jaecoo J7 mid-size SUV, a rival for the Toyota RAV4, and the Jaecoo J8 giant SUV, a five-seat various to the likes of the Kia Sorento.
The J7 lineup opens at $34,990 drive-away, or $5000 greater than the present base value of the equally sized Chery Tiggo 7 Professional.
The Omoda C9, a mid-size SUV, is due on sale right here in August, whereas the Omoda 7 (pictured beneath) is ready to observe sooner or later.
Formally debuted globally in 2023, Omoda Jaecoo exists solely exterior of the Chinese language market, and is a part of a quite complicated export technique by China’s largest automotive exporter, with 1.14 million abroad gross sales in 2024.
For instance, Chery already sells its Jetour and Exeed autos in markets just like the Center East, and is planning to launch Tiggo – a nameplate used on Chery SUVs – as a standalone model in Europe, together with new model Lepas revealed at this 12 months’s Shanghai motor present.
Chery additionally sells its autos beneath the Chirey nameplate in Mexico, whereas its electrical car (EV) model iCar can be bought in some markets as iCaur. And no, we don’t know the way to pronounce that both.
For now, Chery Australia is sticking to simply its namesake and Omoda Jaecoo manufacturers, nevertheless it has left the door open for others to observe.
Chery Australia says it isn’t anticipating another manufacturers “within the quick time period”, however its native communications boss stated extra may observe.
“The clear message for us is ‘You guys have gotten a giant job in your fingers definitely with Chery, definitely with Omoda Jaecoo, you guys do job with that, let’s see what else probably may come’.” stated Chery Australia communications head Tim Krieger.
“However everybody’s 100 per cent targeted on these two manufacturers for the time being, making the perfect of these alternatives.”
Chery solely returned to Australia in 2023, earlier than it introduced the Jaecoo half of Omoda Jaecoo in 2024, after which introduced the Omoda half this 12 months. That’s a really formidable rollout, and we requested Mr Muñoz how a lot of that is being pushed by head workplace.
“Omoda Jaecoo is a world model technique. Actually they hearken to our suggestions; we feed again as a lot as we will about how we predict we must always launch a model or how we predict a product ought to be launched, however there’s a little bit of a world technique that we have to execute,” he stated.
Omoda Jaecoo autos are bought beneath totally different manufacturers in China, the place the Jaecoo J7 is a Chery Tansuo 06 (pictured above), the Jaecoo J8 a Chery Tiggo 9 (pictured beneath, and to not be confused with the marginally totally different international Chery Tiggo 9 due right here this 12 months), and the Omoda C9 is an Exeed Yaoguang.
“What occurs within the home market is totally different to what occurs within the abroad markets,” defined Mr Muñoz.
So how does Omoda Jaecoo differ from Chery, then, given half its autos are bought as Cherys in China? And the way does it stand out when the automaker’s namesake model sells autos right here in the identical segments?
“Jaecoo continues to be targeted on that premium adventure-type providing, so creature comforts you wouldn’t usually see at this value level, luxurious contact and really feel. You’ve obtained your leather-based seats, suede roof liner, massaging seats, calf raises,” he stated.
“Every model has its personal distinctive styling and speaks to a unique a part of the market.”
Omoda Jaecoo autos additionally characteristic an extended eight-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, up from seven years for Chery autos.
However in a market the place even manufacturers comparable to Jeep have referred to as themselves premium, Omoda Jaecoo is reluctant to make use of the time period.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the premium arm, however definitely it’s the following degree up from Chery. In my very own phrases, it’s virtually in that sub-premium class however you get the premium really feel, options that you simply don’t get on the value level,” stated Mr Muñoz.
“That premium phrase, it’s been thrown round, a little bit of a buzz phrase, nevertheless it’s positively the following degree up by way of the product providing from the Chery Group.”
The upcoming Chery Tiggo 9 (above), for instance, wears barely totally different styling to the intently associated Jaecoo J8, and can miss out on some options just like the latter’s perfume dispenser.
Chery believes there’s sufficient differentiation to forestall cannibalisation between the 2 manufacturers.
“There’s not a lot crossover for the time being. People who find themselves after Omoda Jaecoo are simply after Omoda Jaecoo,” stated Mr Muñoz.
“I don’t consider we’re diluting. Actually, we’re including extra choices on the market that individuals can select from, from totally different value factors, at totally different specification ranges.”
“Totally different consumers as properly. Chery could be very targeted on the household, city purchaser. Jaecoo is a little more of that adventurous spirit,” stated Mr Krieger.
“The design of the automobiles is totally different, the target market is totally different, however I believe there’s room for each.”
Chery says it’s “falling into line” with a world technique, although there are some quirks.
The Chery Omoda 5 and Omoda E5 have been not too long ago renamed the Chery C5 (pictured above) and E5 in Australia, although these are bought beneath the Jaecoo Omoda arm in different markets.
“The distinction is that automotive was launched into Australia beneath the Chery model, whereas in different markets the place it was bought it was at all times bought as an Omoda Jaecoo,” stated Mr Krieger.
In an try to alleviate confusion, these autos are being stored in Chery showrooms however being stripped of their Omoda badging.
MORE: All the brand new SUVs coming to Australia from Chery and Omoda Jaecoo in 2025
