Chery is to open a UK research and development centre at the UTAC Millbrook proving ground as it moves beyond importing vehicles and builds a permanent engineering presence in Britain.
The Bedfordshire facility will open in late autumn 2026 and become part of Chery’s global R&D network.
Its initial work will focus on chassis dynamics and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for vehicles developed specifically for the UK market.
Chery said the engineering programme would respond to the country’s narrow lanes, roundabouts, sharp corners, traffic density and varied road surfaces, alongside British drivers’ preference for responsive steering and suspension.
Tuning cars for UK roads
The new centre will also bring UK customer feedback closer to Chery’s vehicle development process and support its expanding portfolio of Omoda, Jaecoo, Chery and future Lepas models although the manufacturer has not yet disclosed which brands or vehicles will be the first to undertake development work at Millbrook.
Gary Lan, chief executive of Chery International UK and vice president of Chery International’s right-hand-drive division, said: “The establishment of our UK R&D Centre of Excellence is the next step in our long-term plan for the UK. We waited over 20 years for the right time to enter this market, and our ambition has always gone much further than simply bringing vehicles here.
“UTAC Millbrook allows us to turn UK customer insight into product development, from ride and steering to active safety systems. It is another step in our long-term investment in the UK, and its work will become part of Chery Automobile’s wider global R&D activities.”
Chery engineers will have access to more than 70km of test tracks at Millbrook, including its Hill Route, Alpine Circuit and durability surfaces.
The proving ground also provides battery and powertrain laboratories, semi-anechoic chambers and facilities for testing ADAS, connected vehicles and autonomous driving technology.
Engineering jobs set to follow
Chery intends to recruit UK engineers and create highly skilled roles as the centre expands. Its longer-term work could extend into autonomous driving and artificial intelligence.
Kirsty Andrew, vice president of UTAC UK, said: “Creating a stand-alone engineering centre here means Chery Automobile can develop and validate vehicles against the particular demands of UK roads and UK drivers, with direct access to our engineering expertise and testing environments throughout that process.
“This is about much more than testing individual vehicles. We see this as the sustained momentum of a long-term engineering relationship with Chery Automobile, and we look forward to supporting the team as its capability and development activity at Millbrook grows.”
The companies already have an established relationship, including a homologation joint venture created in 2024 and Chery’s use of UTAC’s Linas-Montlhéry site in France for safety testing and vehicle approval work.
The Millbrook investment also follows a non-binding agreement under which Chery and Nissan are exploring the potential production of Chery passenger vehicles at Nissan’s Sunderland factory. No manufacturing decision has yet been confirmed.
Chery International manages the manufacturer’s operations outside China. The UK business currently covers Omoda, Jaecoo and Chery, with Lepas due to join the portfolio.
Chery Group exported 202,533 vehicles during July, an increase of 70.1% year on year and the first time a Chinese manufacturer has exceeded 200,000 exports in a single month, according to the company.
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