Jetour T-1: Chery sub-brand preparing boxy SUV

Chery’s spin-off Jetour brand is preparing a range of rugged-looking SUVs, the first of which will be called the T-1.

The Jetour T-1 seen wearing branded camouflage has similarly chunky styling to the GWM Tank 300 – another Chinese vehicle, just launched in Australia – and Ford Bronco Sport.

The road-going version is expected to premiere in April at the Shanghai Auto Show, according to Chinese auto media reports.

It will tap into China’s growing appetite for rugged-looking vehicles, which we are seeing proliferate across various size segments (another recent example being BYD’s Yangwang U8).

Chery has already said the production Jetour T-1 will be 4.8m long as a five-seater and 5m as a seven-seater – respectively the lengths of a Hyundai Santa Fe and Palisade.

Jetour announced last year the T product series would include four-cylinder and six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines, as well as PHEV and EV options.

It will feature a mechanical four-wheel drive system with differential lock in petrol forms, and dual-motor AWD as an EV.

Intriguingly, Jetour says “pickup truck models” with the same platform will also be launched in the future.

In terms of an Australian launch, Jetour has made no comment. The five-year-old brand sells products in the Middle East and South America, so clearly has one eye on exports.

Chery is about to relaunch in Australia with the Omoda 5, and has huge expansion plans. More on that linked below.

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