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Chery to open UK R&D center in 2026

8/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Chery will open an R&D centre at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire, England, in autumn 2026.
The centre will tune chassis, steering and driver-assistance systems for UK roads and add AI.
CEO Gary Lan said the centre is the “next step” after a 20-year wait to enter the UK market.
Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo held 8 % of the UK market in July, up from 3 % a year earlier (SMMT).

History

Historical Context

In February 1984 the UK government and Nissan signed a deal to build a single-union plant on the former RAF Usworth site; it opened in September 1986, creating thousands of jobs and reviving the post-industrial North East. That Asian-investment model underpins Chery’s 2026 R&D centre at Millbrook, as the Chinese brand seeks an 8 % UK market share. Nissan’s Sunderland plant produced 507,444 cars in 2016.

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Story summary

Chery will open an R&D centre at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire, England, in autumn 2026.
The centre will tune chassis, steering and driver-assistance systems for UK roads and add AI.
CEO Gary Lan said the centre is the “next step” after a 20-year wait to enter the UK market.
Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo held 8 % of the UK market in July, up from 3 % a year earlier (SMMT).

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