An official presentation of Chery in the Czech Republic

Chery, the Chinese automaker, officially entered the Czech market on September 18. The brand’s exclusive distributor is Astana Motors, a Kazakhstani company and one of the leaders in the Central Asian automotive market.

The official presentation took place in Voderadky near Prague and attracted over 180 guests, including journalists, automotive experts, diplomats, and business representatives. Participants were able to test drive the entire model range and learn about Chery’s key technologies.

In the Czech Republic, Chery unveiled its gasoline and hybrid crossovers: the Tiggo 4 HEV, the Tiggo 7 (ICE and PHEV), and the Tiggo 8 (ICE and PHEV). The flagship Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV will also be unveiled before the end of the year.

Chery and Astana Motors top executives arrived in the Czech Republic for the ceremony: Astana Motors founder Nurlan Smagulov, Vice President of Chery International and CEO of EU Region Jeff Zhang, Chery Europe R&D Chief Engineer from Germany Jochen Tüting, and Vice President of Chery EU Frank Wang.

Pictured: Chery Europe R&D Chief Engineer Jochen Tüting, Vice President of Chery EU Frank Wang, Vice President of Chery International and CEO of EU Region Jeff Zhang, Astana Motors founder Nurlan Smagulov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Czech Republic Bakyt Dyusenbayev, Astana Motors CEO Beknur Nesipbayev, and Astana Motors board member Keith Simmons.

The event was supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Czech Republic and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Bakyt Dyusenbayev personally.

The high-level event was also honored by the presence of the Consul of the People’s Republic of China in the Czech Republic Liu Haiyang, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Martin Frölich, and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Leading representatives of the Czech business and the heads of major Chinese banks also attended the event.

According to Jeff Zhang, the Czech Republic inspires with its heritage, innovation, and energy:

“This step is a strategic milestone for Chery in Europe. We hope that more and more Europeans will choose Chery on their way to an innovative and sustainable future.”

Nurlan Smagulov noted the progress made since signing the distribution agreement in June and emphasized his confidence in the brand’s prospects:

“We’ve been working with Chery since 2021. Together, we’ve made it the number one Chinese brand in Kazakhstan. We now have 26 dealers, seven models, and 9% of the market gained by Chery. This year, we opened a plant in Almaty, where cars are manufactured using the CKD method with robotic welding and body painting. This is a new stage for us. However, I would like to emphasize that cars will be shipped directly to the Czech Republic from China. We are grateful to Chery for their trust in Astana Motors. We are confident in the quality and appeal of Chery cars in Europe, and in our strength in this new market.”

The Astana Motors team at the Chery presentation in the Czech Republic

Astana Motors is independently opening a flagship dealership in Prague. At a ceremony on September 18, dealership agreements were signed with eight more partners in key cities of the Czech Republic. By the end of 2026, the dealer network will grow to 26 outlets, ensuring the brand’s widespread presence throughout the country.

Chery cars during the Athens (Greece) – Prague (Czech Republic) rally in the Czech Republic.

In 2025, Chery is one of the largest automakers in China, represented in more than 115 countries. Its global user base numbers 17 million.

The entry into the Czech Republic coincides with growing demand for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Europe. For Chery, this is not only an opportunity to gain a market share but also a strategic step toward European expansion.

The finale of Chery’s Athens (Greece) – Prague (Czech Republic) rally

The company has already reached a milestone of 5 million exported cars, and the recent Athens (Greece) – Prague (Czech Republic) rally, covering over 3,000 km, confirmed the reliability and technological advancement of Chery Tiggo models.

Chery is focusing on innovation and affordability, aiming not only to compete with European brands but also to offer consumers new technologies and more choice.