Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile is strengthening its presence in the British market with plans to establish a new research and development centre in the UK later this year, signalling a
deeper commitment to developing vehicles specifically for British motorists.
The facility, due to open in late autumn 2026, will be based at UTAC Millbrook, a major vehicle testing and development site in Bedfordshire. Chery said the centre will allow its engineers to draw directly on the experience and expectations of UK drivers when developing future models.
Gary Lan, chief executive of Chery International UK, said the Millbrook operation would help the company translate local customer feedback into improvements in areas ranging from ride quality and steering to active safety technology.
The investment comes as Chinese automotive manufacturers continue to increase their share of the UK new-car market. Chinese brands accounted for roughly 15% of new registrations during the first half of 2026, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, compared with about 10% across the whole of 2025.
Competitive pricing, alongside growing product ranges, has helped brands such as MG, BYD, JAECOO and OMODA gain ground among British consumers.
Chery's UK expansion also follows an agreement with Japanese manufacturer Nissan to explore producing Chery passenger vehicles at Nissan's Sunderland plant. The potential manufacturing partnership could give Chery an additional foothold in Britain's automotive production network while reducing the distance between its operations and the UK market.
The new Bedfordshire centre will initially concentrate on vehicle chassis development and driver-assistance technologies adapted to British road conditions and driving habits. Chery said its longer-term ambitions include research into autonomous driving and artificial intelligence.
The move reflects a broader shift among Chinese carmakers from simply exporting vehicles to building local engineering, testing and manufacturing capabilities in overseas markets.
For Chery, establishing an engineering base in Britain could provide both a testing ground for its European ambitions and a closer understanding of one of the continent's most competitive automotive markets.
Kirsty Andrew, vice-president of UTAC UK, said the relationship with Chery was intended to extend beyond individual vehicle testing and develop into a long-term engineering partnership.
With Chinese manufacturers steadily increasing their presence on British roads, Chery's new R&D centre suggests the competition is no longer confined to the showroom. The next phase is increasingly about engineering vehicles around the needs of local drivers—and establishing a permanent industrial presence in the UK. Photo by Rutger van der Maar, Wikimedia commons.
