ALERT: The Lepas brand will debut in Malaysia in Q1 2026, followed by product launch within the first half of 2026. The first model to show up will be the L8 SUV.
Chery International today unveiled its new premium marque, Lepas, at a global launch in Wuhu, Anhui, attended by hundreds of media representatives and key dealers from around the world.
The debut model, the L8 midsize SUV, will go on sale later this year outside China, with pricing yet to be disclosed.
Lepas aims to establish 1,200 outlets across 89 markets by 2027, creating a network poised to capture growing demand for lifestyle-oriented vehicles in regions such as South-East Asia, where Malaysia is earmarked as a priority market.
The L8 draws heavily on Chery’s T1X architecture — shared with Tiggo, Omoda and Jaecoo models — to streamline production and parts commonality.
Styled around a “Leopard Aesthetics” theme, it features sculpted flanks, signature vertical-pupil headlights and a minimalist, tech-centric cabin.
Although Chery has not formally published dimensions, industry observers note the vehicle’s similarity to the Tiggo 8 suggests a length of about 4.7 m and powertrain options mirroring its platform sibling: a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine delivering roughly 197 PS and a 2.0 litre unit rated at 254 PS, both likely paired with a dual-clutch transmission.
At launch the L8 will be offered in petrol, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric variants, with the prototype shown featuring the PHEV system.
Chery confirms that Lepas will not be marketed domestically but is targeted squarely at overseas markets.
In Europe, the L8 will arrive in early 2026 alongside two compact SUVs, marking the brand’s entry into the region.
Future line-up expansion will be rapid.
Following the L8, the lean, urban-centric L6 and the fashion-driven L4
— both previewed at the launch — will join the range, completing a five-model roll-out over the next three years, with an annual goal of producing and selling 500,000 units.
Company executives say this strategy represents a strategic pivot from traditional manufacturing to a lifestyle mobility offering, marrying Chery’s technological strengths with an emotional design.
The globasl launch of the Lepas sub-brand came a day after the opening of Auto Shanghai 2025.
