Lepas has loaded nearly 1,300 L8 plug-in hybrid SUVs onto a car carrier as Chery International’s fourth UK marque prepares to begin deliveries in September.
The UK-specification vehicles are travelling aboard the AICC Kunpeng to the port of Tyne. They will then be moved to dealerships that are still being completed across Britain.
Lepas said dozens of outlets were being fitted out, with Arnold Clark and Marshall Motor Group among the businesses preparing to represent the brand.
Test drives are expected to start at the first sites in late August. Registrations and customer handovers should follow from early September.
The shipment comes after the five-seat SUV appeared at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Lepas UK managing director Ray Wang said advance demand was healthy and hundreds of prospective buyers were waiting to drive the L8, although the company provided no firm order total.
Two versions will be offered. The Essence starts at £34,900 (RM192,300), while the better-equipped Elevate costs from £37,900 (RM208,800).
Both pair a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a dedicated hybrid transmission and an 18.4kWh battery. Lepas said a DC charger can raise the battery level from 30% to 80% in 20 minutes.
A full charge provides as much as 90km (WLTC) of electric driving. The claimed petrol-electric range is 1,199km, while carbon dioxide emissions are listed at 21g/km.
Lepas also quoted combined consumption of 0.58l/100km. Note that this is a plug-in-hybrid laboratory figure.
A battery-electric L8 is scheduled for 2027.
