Vertex Automobile is bringing back Chery with two new models, commencing with a new electric vehicle (EV) during the fourth quarter of 2023, followed by a plug-in hybrid model (PHEV).
Although Vertex will continue selling Seat cars until its present stock is cleared, Cupra, an offshoot of the Spanish automobile brand will go to Volkswagen Group Singapore (VGS) from next Thursday. According to records, Chery automobiles were last sold in Singapore in January 2019.
Existing Seat owners can continue going to Vertex for maintenance and after-sales services. According to the VGS spokesperson, it will begin welcoming both Cupra and Seat automobiles from next Thursday. VGS said that its plans for Seat is only for warranty, aftersales and repair services, meaning that the Spanish brand will not have any retail representation after the remaining stock of cars has been sold by Vertex as they will focus on PHEV and EV models and will stop selling international combustion engine models from 2024. Seat does not have any PHEV or EV models for sale in Singapore.
When Chery arrived in Singapore in 2006, although it was among the most successful Chinese automobile brands, rising certificate of entitlement prices in the following years have made them less attractive to budget-conscious buyers. This time, Chery is looking to shed their budget image to appeal to buyers who are looking for technology. Chery’s re-launch will start in Singapore with two models under sub brads Jaecoo and Omoda. Since of late, Chinese automobile companies have been creating sub-brands with distinctly different models.
While the Omoda 5 EV crossover is expected to arrive by the fourth quarter of 2023, the Jaecoo 7, which is a PHEV plans to follow in the first quarter of 2024. The two models made their world debut at the Auto Shanghai show in April although details including specifications and prices of the models are yet to be confirmed.
Vertex is making preparations to bring in a new brand of electric commercial vehicles by the end of 2023 from China. The lineup will include a pickup truck and a light goods vehicle which will be available as a single and double cab style truck. The brand was not named.
Renovations will commence in June, at the showroom at Ubi Road 4 in preparation for the change. The new layout will accommodate Chery, the new commercial brand, and the remaining Seat automobiles until they are sold. Vertex which is owned by egg trader Lian Fong, introduced the Chery to Singapore in 2006. With generous incentives to promote green mobility, lately, Chinese automotive brands are re-appearing with new EV options including BYD, Foton, Maxus and DFSK offering a mix of automobiles and commercial vehicles.
