Model evening woos viewers
China’s Chery Vehicle has formally launched its new all-electric car model, iCAUR, on the world stage because the Wuhu-headquartered firm accelerates its international enlargement into new power automobiles, starting with the Center East.
iCAUR is pronounced ‘eye automobile.’ Chery markets the model as ‘iCar’ in China. The iCAUR title is getting used for worldwide markets to keep away from trademark infringement with US-based Apple, which owns rights to the iCar trademark title outdoors China.
Executives from Chery and its subsidiaries addressed regional automotive trade company and choose media on the international debut and model evening of iCAUR, held in Dubai within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 1, 2025, beneath the theme of ‘Born To Play’.
The occasion launched a number of of the model’s first range-extended electrical car (REEV) fashions, together with the crossover 03T, the compact V23, and the all-new V27 SUV, all designed to attraction to a youthful, tech-savvy viewers.
Whereas no particular retail pricing or dealership plans have been introduced, the iCAUR model is anticipated to roll out in key Arabian Gulf markets earlier than the tip of the 12 months.
iCAUR’s launch comes as governments throughout the Gulf proceed investing in EV infrastructure. The UAE, particularly, has made EV readiness a nationwide precedence, with Dubai aiming to transform 30 per cent of all automobiles to electrical or hybrid by 2030.
iCAUR’s launch programme for 2025 contains Qatar, UAE, Oman and Bahrain, adopted by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq in 2026.
Delivering the keynote on the well-attended occasion, Dr Su Jun, CEO of Smartmi, Vice President of Chery Vehicle, and CEO of iCAR/iCAUR, mentioned the automotive trade is present process a basic transformation pushed by electrification and good expertise. However he famous that many new merchandise on the worldwide market lack id.
“At present’s automobiles usually really feel too related, missing character,” he advised the viewers. “We wish to change that. We goal to create automobiles which might be daring in design, wealthy in persona, and tailor-made to international tastes.”
Strenuous testing
Su careworn that the iCAUR model is not only about design, but in addition about international testing and tradition. The merchandise have already undergone rigorous testing in additional than 50 international locations, together with excessive warmth and excessive altitudes—elements significantly related to the Center East.
“This international testing ensures that the iCAUR automobiles aren’t simply trendy, but in addition dependable and appropriate for various circumstances,” he famous.
Chery’s option to debut the iCAUR model in Dubai underscores the rising significance of the hydrocarbon-rich Arabian Gulf as a proving floor and launchpad for international EV ambitions.
The UAE and neighbouring markets have proven rising curiosity in electrical mobility, each from a sustainability standpoint and as a result of rising gasoline effectivity issues amongst youthful shoppers.
In keeping with Su, iCAUR plans to broaden to over 100 international locations within the subsequent 5 years. The Center East will function a place to begin earlier than additional strikes into Europe and North America. Chery has already seen sturdy early curiosity in its debut EV mannequin, the V23, which Su mentioned turned a high vendor shortly after its launch in China.
The iCAUR automobiles introduced on the international launch occasion in Dubai characteristic modular structure and superior security techniques, resembling strengthened our bodies. They combine AI software program that controls a number of car features.
The fashions are powered by a 1.5-litre turbo engine with thermal effectivity reaching 44.5 per cent—a determine Su claimed locations the engine among the many high in its class globally.
Measuring virtually 5 meters lengthy, the V27 is supplied with a range-extended electrical (EREV) powertrain that pairs a 1.5T turbocharged engine with an electrical motor. Will probably be out there in two variants: rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The AWD mannequin is projected to ship a peak output of 335 kW and supply a CLTC-rated all-electric vary of as much as 200 km.
The V27 is anticipated to value AED130,000 within the UAE market.
Su described the corporate’s strategy to car growth as “user-first,” with an emphasis on making designs sensible, sturdy and customisable. Over 90 sorts of equipment have been made out there for the V23 alone, he added.
“Clients as we speak don’t simply need a automobile—they need a option to specific themselves,” he mentioned. “Our designs enable folks to make the automobile mirror their life-style.”
Chery has invested closely in its international R&D and manufacturing footprint to help the iCAUR model. The corporate claims to have established a system able to dealing with design, manufacturing and high quality management on a worldwide scale.
The EVs are manufactured utilizing what Chery describes as a ’10-in-1′ built-in drive unit. This cutting-edge expertise combines 10 completely different car techniques into one, managed by a centralised computing system to scale back weight and enhance efficiency.
Technical techniques
On the launch occasion, Ma Yongdong, Vice President of iCar/iCAUR and Chief Technical Officer of iCar/iCAUR, detailed a number of of the technical techniques underpinning the brand new iCAUR automobiles, together with what the corporate calls an ‘Ice Chest’ chassis platform.
This platform, impressed by the cooling properties of an ice chest, gives a novel cooling system for the car’s battery, guaranteeing optimum efficiency even in high-temperature circumstances. Yongdong mentioned the iCAUR 03 presents 4.5 metres in size and a wheelbase of two,783 mm, with a 225 mm floor clearance to allow each city and off-road driving.
The iCAUR fashions additionally embrace a variety of security options aimed toward dealing with excessive temperatures, significantly related for Gulf international locations. These embrace a five-layer battery safety system designed to operate in temperatures starting from -40°C to 60°C. This emphasis on security exhibits our dedication to offering safe and dependable automobiles, even in difficult circumstances.
Yongdong mentioned that intensive testing beneath these circumstances exhibits the corporate’s readiness to enter difficult markets just like the Center East.
“We imagine we now have created one of many most secure EV platforms globally. This readiness and confidence in our product’s security ought to reassure our clients about our capabilities and preparedness to satisfy their wants, he added.
Zhang Xiaodong, Normal Supervisor of Chery Worldwide (Center East), provided a broader context for the corporate’s regional technique. He mentioned Chinese language producers have been as soon as identified for offering low-cost automobiles with restricted market share, however that modified in 2022 in the course of the international chip scarcity, when Chinese language EVs started gaining traction.
Xiaodong highlighted that in 2024, Chery moved up 105 locations on the Fortune International 500 checklist, rising to No. 200, which he mentioned marked a “golden time” for Chinese language automotive companies.
“Up to now, Chinese language manufacturers weren’t properly understood within the Center East,” Xiaodong mentioned. “Now, that’s altering. At present’s shoppers are on the lookout for extra than simply affordability—they need one thing that displays their id and stands out.”
He added that Center Jap drivers care more and more about gasoline effectivity regardless of the area’s comparatively low petrol costs. This shift is contributing to a rising marketplace for hybrid and EVs, significantly amongst youthful shoppers who favour innovation and distinct design.
Xiaodong famous that Chery has already secured registration for 20 items of the iCAUR V27 within the UAE, that are at present present process high-temperature testing in native circumstances.
Past product availability, Chery can be specializing in after-sales service and elements provide to handle long-standing issues with Chinese language car manufacturers. The corporate has arrange regional warehousing aimed toward delivering spare elements inside 48 hours.
Automillennium Group position
Andrea Romeo, Enterprise Improvement Supervisor of UAE-based Automillennium Group, additionally spoke on the occasion, highlighting a brand new collaboration to supply customisation companies for iCAUR fashions.
He mentioned his staff had labored on three personalised designs showcased in the course of the occasion, tailor-made particularly for regional drivers. These designs embrace distinctive paint jobs, inside customisations, and efficiency upgrades, all aimed toward enhancing the driving expertise and reflecting the proprietor’s individuality.
“We discovered that iCAUR provides us the liberty to innovate,” Romeo mentioned. “We’ve created designs that aren’t solely eye-catching, but in addition purposeful in harsh environments.”
Talking completely to Center East Information 247 on the sidelines of the launch occasion, Hope Zhang, Nation Director (UAE) of iCAUR, mentioned the model is dedicated to focusing completely on the manufacturing of EV and REEV fashions; a key differentiator from Chery’s different automotive manufacturers which might be a mixture of ICE, hybrid and EVs.
Zhang added that iCAUR will significantly try to satisfy UAE-based clients’ expectations.
With iCAUR, Chery joins a rising checklist of Chinese language automakers vying for a foothold within the Center East’s fast-evolving electrical car section, difficult Western, Japanese and South Korean producers in a market that’s turning into more and more receptive to new Chinese language manufacturers.
Chery markets a number of of its different automotive manufacturers within the UAE and the Center East market, together with Chery, Tiggo, Jetour, Exeed, Omada, and Jaecoo.
Hero picture: iCAUR unveiled its twin flagship REEV fashions in Dubai on August 1, 2025. (L-R) V27 and 03T. Credit score: Arnold Pinto
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