Chery Says It May Enter U.S. Market at the Right Time, No Concrete Plans Yet

Chery International President Zhang Guibing stated that Chery hopes to enter the U.S. automotive market at an appropriate future time, though no concrete timeline has been set. He noted that the decision will depend on the company’s own readiness and future shifts in industrial policies from both China and the United States. The U.S. government has previously indicated it would accept Chinese automakers entering the market if they manufacture vehicles locally, but U.S. automotive industry groups and some members of Congress remain opposed. Currently, the U.S. imposes a 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles and restricts technologies related to intelligent connected vehicles, while Congress continues to intensify scrutiny of Chinese automobiles. As a result, Chery has not included the U.S. among its export markets. For now, Chery remains focused on Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, several Chinese automakers are accelerating their business expansion in Mexico and Latin America, viewing the region as a strategic springboard into the North American market. Some Chinese automakers have already established R&D and design centers in the U.S. or are setting up manufacturing operations under non-Chinese brands. For example, Volvo, owned by Geely, operates a plant in South Carolina and may announce new U.S. business plans within the next two to three years. BYD has entered the U.S. market with electric buses but currently has no plans to sell passenger vehicles there. Xiaomi has also stated it has no intention of entering the U.S. automotive market at this time.