Lepas, the new brand belonging to the Chery group, is moving towards its introduction into the Brazilian market. This brand will join the manufacturer's portfolio in the country alongside Omoda Jaecoo and Jetour, and is expected to offer vehicles in hybrid, electric, and combustion segments.
Lepas has received prototypes intended for homologation testing and adaptation to Brazilian conditions. These tests aim to allow final adjustments before commercial launch, including the calibration of steering and suspension systems, as well as the adaptation of engines to Brazilian fuel, which has a high proportion of ethanol.
Although operational progress is being made, dates for the start of sales or which models will initially be available in the national territory have not yet been defined.
The brand's operation in Brazil will be under the responsibility of Omoda & Jaecoo. This differs from the case of Jetour, which began its activities autonomously, despite also being part of the Chery group. An indication of this organization is the recent recruitment process carried out by Omoda & Jaecoo, which opened vacancies in various areas such as brand management, sales, purchasing, training, product, and network development, suggesting an imminent new operation.
Lepas has a unique profile within the Chery group, having been established just over a year ago with a primary focus on export, without selling vehicles in its origin, China. Internationally, the brand has already reached markets such as Italy, Spain, Greece, Chile, and South Africa, in addition to several Asian countries. In Brazil, the brand's presence is manifested through an active Instagram profile since March, following a strategy similar to that adopted in Chile before the consolidation of the local dealership network.
The brand is expected to present its complete line of SUVs, all derived from Chery group models, especially the Tiggo family. The top-of-the-line model is the L8, which has a length of 4.69 meters and uses plug-in hybrid powertrain, offering an electric range of up to 107 km and an approximate combined range of 1,300 km, although the complete mechanical assembly has not yet been disclosed.
Just below it is the L6, measuring 4.55 meters, which will be sold in fully electric and plug-in hybrid versions. The battery version features a 67 kWh package, promising up to 435 km of autonomy according to the WLTP cycle, and can charge from 30% to 80% in approximately 20 minutes. The hybrid version, named Lepas Super Hybrid, combines a 1.5 gasoline engine with an electric system and exceeds 1,100 km of combined range.
The L4 will serve as the brand's entry point and is the only one of the trio to offer exclusively combustion options. In South Africa, a reference market for Lepas, the entry-level version features a 108 hp naturally aspirated 1.5 engine coupled with a five-speed manual transmission. The other models use a 147 hp 1.5 turbo engine with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, identical to the one used in the Tiggo 5X in Brazil. Additionally, there is an electric variant with 218 hp, available with 61.1 kWh or 67.1 kWh batteries, providing ranges of 402 km or 450 km, respectively, in the WLTP cycle.
Chery has announced that the Tiggo 4 Cross will be the first model manufactured at the recently acquired line in Rosslyn. This factory is located near Pretoria in South Africa.
The production facility was purchased from Nissan and was officially opened at the beginning of this month. Before production begins, which is scheduled for the second half of 2027, significant modernizations are expected at the plant.
Furthermore, Chery's sister brand, Jaecoo, previously confirmed that the compact crossover J5 will be assembled specifically at the Rosslyn plant. The J5 model shares a close foundation with Chery's Tiggo 4 Cross, as does the Lepas L4, which is also being considered for local production.
Chery is conducting a feasibility study for the production of a local pickup truck (bakkie) at a later stage, but a final decision has not yet been made. The KP31 pickup is currently the focus for local implementation.
The company confirmed that both gasoline and hybrid versions of the Tiggo 4 Cross will be produced locally, although the full range of models and pricing will be announced closer to the launch. The production of the hybrid version will expand South Africa's experience in new energy vehicle manufacturing. Among other hybrids currently produced in the country are the Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid, as well as the BMW X3 and Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid, the latter being intended only for export.
According to Chery representatives, offering both internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid (HEV) variants will allow the company to meet the steady demand for traditional gasoline cars while supporting the growing number of buyers in South Africa who are considering more economical electrified alternatives.
It is planned that by the end of 2027, as production volumes increase, Chery South Africa will produce 15,000 vehicles, with further growth expected as operations develop. The company has not disclosed individual sales figures for the Tiggo 4 Cross, but combined with the previous generation Tiggo 4, it is one of the best-selling SUVs in the country, having sold 11,322 units in the first half of this year. Currently, the Cross is among the least expensive SUVs in the country, with prices ranging from R279,900 to R469,900.
The local Chery project is expected to create about 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, and 692 employees were retained from Nissan's former operations. In the long term, Chery intends to transform the Rosslyn site into a larger automotive industrial center that will include not only manufacturing but also research, development, and skills development. Additionally, it is envisioned as a base for exports to the African continent.
