One of the few new auto brands that Chery will launch in Australia over the next 12 to 18 months is **Lepas, which has one of its first models being L6 small SUV detailed in Europe. ** ** .
Brand – like Omoda Jaecoo, which does not exist in China ‘will launch here towards the end of 2026’.
First Lepas cabs off the rank are set to be the L6, a rival for the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Qashqai, and the L8, which is similar in size to the Mitsubishi Outlander and Toyota RAV4.
The most likely launch will be these the L4 – an even smaller SUV – which is expected to follow in 2027.
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Chery has also previously confirmed it plans to offer L1, L2 and L3 models under the Lepas brand, as well as a large L9. The lineup could also expand to include a sedan.
Similarly, it’s not yet clear at this stage whether Lepas models will be available to buy or sell; however there is currently a mix of petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric cars across the Chery and Omoda Jaecoo brands.
Announcing in Europe ahead of its public debut at Milan Design Week over April 20-26, the L6 will be offered with a pure-electric powertrain (67kWh battery and 435km range on the WLTC cycle) as confirmed in Germany. The 4-cylinder hybrid system – not plug-in hybrid powertrains is 5-litre four-cylinder, with an overall range of 1127km.
Lepas says the L6 will be built on the “all-new New Energy Vehicle modular platform”.
Further specifications, including dimensions, have yet to be announced as has the interior of the L6. A fourth quarter (October to December) of 2026 will see the sale of the L6 in the UK, where s are expected.
Lepas are the genus of goose barnacles, but Chery says the name is a portmanteau of ‘leopard’ and ‘passion’ – the feline connection can be seen in LED headlights which have been created like’leopard’s eye.
The company is to offer a ‘new generation of bold, design-led SUVs that blend passion with practicality’ and bold exterior colours.
Chery has not confirmed what Lepas’ retail strategy will be in Australia, and if the brand will sell with existing CherY and Omoda Jaecoo brands?
But with a range of crossover SUVs, Lepas’ lineup will overlap heavily with those of the existing Chery and Omoda Jaecoo brands in Australia, both of which offer small SUVs (Jaecoo J5, Chery C5/E5 and Tiggo 4) and medium SUVs (Jaecoo J7, Chery Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8).
Jetour T1
iCaur V27
Lepas launch is part of a global puzzle that the Chery Group has set ‘an annual export record last year with 1,344,020 units – an increase of 17 per cent’ in its new 2017 total. a 4 per cent , and is worth four percent. The sales of its total sale was 48 per cent for Exports, which accounted for half of the company’.
The launch of Lepas is not only the first year this year, but three other Chery Group brands are due here from now to the end of 2027.
iCaur, a brand specialising in boxy electrified SUVs, is expected in 2027, with Freelander, another brand set to offer boxy electrified SUVs, due mid-late 2027.
Jetour, another Chery brand, has also confirmed its intentions to launch in the Australian market. It’s understood this brand will operate separately from the rest of the Chery menagerie.
Unless Chery decides to create another export-only brand such as Omoda Jaecoo or Lepas, that leaves less number of potential brand entries for Australia.
Soueast, acquired by Chery in 2024, has confirmed it’s eyeing right-hand drive markets.
There’s also Luxeed, a premium brand developed in partnership with electronics giant Huawei, and Exeed, among Chery’s oldest brands which specialises in premium SUVs and exports vehicles to markets like the Middle East. One Exeed model, the RX, is already sold here as the Omoda 9.
Light commercial vehicle brand Rely has also been revived by Chery, though it’s unlikely for Australia given the Chinese automaker has already confirmed it will sell the upcoming KP31 ute under its namesake brand.
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