Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile plans to launch a hybrid model in Japan in 2027, following rival BYD into the market, Nikkei Asia has reported.

A company spokesperson told the publication during a media tour at Chery’s base in Wuhu, near Shanghai, that the planned vehicle will be the Omoda 4 compact SUV.

The Omoda 4 was unveiled in April and showcased at the Paris Motor Show.

It features an AI-driven infotainment system responding to voice controls, which operated solely in English and Chinese during a demonstration.

Chery is also an investor in EMT, a Sino-Japanese joint venture aiming to introduce an electric kei minicar in Japan next year, with specifications expected in the coming months.

Founded in 1997, Chery’s brand portfolio includes Omoda, Jaecoo, Exeed, Luxeed, Jetour and Lepas.

It is China’s largest automotive exporter, sending 200,928 units overseas in September - a 53% year-on-year increase that comprised nearly three-quarters of its total sales, according to the company.

Key shareholders include an investment vehicle overseen by the Wuhu municipal authority and an affiliate of Apple supplier Luxshare.

At Chery’s annual conference, chairman Yin Tongyue said the business "must go beyond simply selling goods" and "actively contribute to local communities and improve the lives of the people who live there." He added that the marque aims to "win respect" internationally.

Chery also presented in-house batteries, semiconductors, AI architecture and automated driving technology, alongside a target of deploying 100,000 robotaxis by 2030.

The carmaker displayed humanoid robots developed by subsidiary AImoga, though their industrial use remains limited.

Chery’s primary Wuhu plant, with an annual capacity of approximately 300,000 vehicles, runs two shifts of around 1,000 workers each.