Lepas is one in every of a handful of latest auto brands that Chery will launch in Australia over the following 12 to 18 months, and the L6 small SUV now detailed in Europe will likely be amongst its first models.
The brand – which, like Omoda Jaecoo, doesn’t exist in China – will likely be launched here towards the top 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 analogous in size to the Mitsubishi Outlander and Toyota RAV4.
These are the more than likely to be launched first, with the L4 – a good smaller SUV – expected to follow in 2027.
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Chery has also previously confirmed it plans to supply L1, L2 and L3 models under the Lepas brand, in addition to a big L9. The lineup could also expand to incorporate a sedan.
It’s also unclear at this stage which powertrains each Lepas model will likely be offered with in Australia, though there’s currently a mixture of petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles across the Chery and Omoda Jaecoo brands.
As confirmed in Europe ahead of its public debut at Milan Design Week over April 20-26, the L6 will likely be offered with a pure-electric powertrain with a 67kWh battery and 435km of range on the WLTC cycle, and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid system – not a plug-in hybrid powertrain– with a complete range of 1127km.
Lepas says the L6 will likely be built on the “all-new Recent Energy Vehicle modular platform”.
Further specifications, including dimensions, have yet to be revealed, as has the L6’s interior. The L6 will go on sale within the UK within the fourth quarter (October to December) of 2026.
Lepas is a genus of goose barnacles, but Chery says the name is a portmanteau of ‘leopard’ and ‘passion’ – the feline connection will be seen within the LED headlights, that are designed to resemble a leopard’s eye.
The brand will offer a “latest generation of daring, design-led SUVs that mix passion with practicality”, together with daring exterior colors.
Chery hasn’t confirmed what Lepas’ retail strategy will likely be in Australia, and if the brand will likely be sold alongside the present Chery and Omoda Jaecoo brands.
But with a variety of crossover SUVs, Lepas’ lineup will overlap heavily with those of the present Chery and Omoda Jaecoo brands in Australia, each of which provide small SUVs (Jaecoo J5, Chery C5/E5 and Tiggo 4) and medium SUVs (Jaecoo J7, Chery Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8).
The launch of Lepas is an element of a bewildering global strategy by the Chery Group, which set a brand new annual export record last 12 months with 1,344,020 units – a rise of 17.4 per cent. Exports accounted for 48 per cent of its total sales.
Not only is Lepas being launched here this 12 months, but three other brands from the Chery Group are due here between now and the top of 2027.
iCaur, a brand specialising in boxy electrified SUVs, is anticipated in 2027, with Freelander, one other brand set to supply boxy electrified SUVs, due mid-late 2027.
Jetour, one other Chery brand, has also confirmed its intentions to launch within the Australian market. It’s understood this brand will operate individually from the remainder of the Chery menagerie.
Unless Chery decides to create one other export-only brand like Omoda Jaecoo or Lepas, that leaves a diminishing variety 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, amongst Chery’s oldest brands which specialises in premium SUVs and exports vehicles to markets just like the Middle East. One Exeed model, the RX, is already sold here because the Omoda 9.
Light industrial vehicle brand Rely has also been revived by Chery, though it’s unlikely for Australia given the Chinese automaker has already confirmed it would sell the upcoming KP31 ute under its namesake brand.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
