Omoda
Omoda is an export-focused automotive brand owned by Chery Automobile and positioned between Chery and Chery's more premium Exeed marque in selected markets.
Last updated October 13, 2026
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Overview
Omoda is an international automotive sub-brand of Chery Automobile. It operates within Chery International's export strategy alongside its sister marque Jaecoo, with the two brands generally marketed outside mainland China rather than as ordinary domestic Chinese-market marques. Omoda is intended to occupy a more premium and design-led position than the mainstream Chery brand, while remaining below Exeed in markets such as Russia. Its name is explained by Chery as a combination of “oxygen” and “modern,” reflecting the brand's intended association with contemporary design, lifestyle, and mobility. The brand's institutional separation began in June 2022, when Chery announced that the Omoda family would be separated from the Chery marque and established as an independent brand for Russia. Russia became the first market to receive the independent Omoda identity, with the Omoda C5 entering the market in October 2022. In April 2023, Chery staged the global debut of Omoda and Jaecoo in Wuhu, Anhui. Chery described the two brands collectively as its “O&J” businesses and set an ambition for them to reach 1.4 million annual sales outside China by 2030. That same month, Chery established Anhui Omoda Jaecoo Automobile Co., Ltd. as a dedicated sales company in China. Omoda's target customer has been described by Chery president Zhang Guibing as the “Fashion Elite”: consumers portrayed as dynamic, avant-garde, and fashion-oriented. The brand's design direction has been associated with Steve Eum, identified as Chery's vice president and general manager of design in China. In practice, Omoda's range has concentrated on crossovers and sport utility vehicles, supplemented by electric and hybrid derivatives. Model naming varies by country. The core C5, also sold as the Omoda 5, is derived from the Chery Omoda 5 and is offered with conventional and electrified variants. Larger products include the C7 and C9, while the S5 or O5 extends the brand into sedan-based passenger cars. The E5/C5 EV provides a battery-electric offering. The brand expanded beyond its initial Russian launch during 2023 and 2024. It was introduced in South Africa in April 2023 as a luxury-oriented marque, although local sales and after-sales operations used Chery dealer infrastructure, parts distribution, and customer support. In Mexico, Omoda became independent from the Chirey brand in May 2023; the former Chirey Omoda 5 was reidentified as the Omoda C5. Western European expansion began with Spain in March 2024, followed by the United Kingdom in May and Italy in July. Chery also agreed in April 2024 with Spanish company EV Motors to produce Omoda vehicles at a former Nissan factory in Barcelona. Omoda continues to share dealers with Jaecoo in a number of countries, allowing Chery to build an international retail and service network without necessarily creating entirely separate infrastructure in every market. Its future product planning has included additional compact vehicles and hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric versions. By August 2025, Chery reported that Omoda and Jaecoo together had sold 600,000 vehicles worldwide during the 27 months since their brand introduction. That figure was reported for the combined O&J business rather than Omoda alone, so it should not be treated as an Omoda-only sales total.
History
Omoda emerged from Chery Automobile's effort to create separately identifiable export brands beyond its established Chery marque. The initial separation decision was announced in June 2022 for Russia. Rather than treating Omoda simply as a model family, Chery presented it as an independent brand intended to sit in a more premium and fashionable space. The Omoda C5 became the first vehicle sold under the independent identity in Russia in October 2022. The marque's international presentation took place in April 2023 in Wuhu, Anhui, alongside Jaecoo. Chery grouped the two brands under the informal “O&J” description and directed them primarily toward markets outside China. The company announced an ambition for the combined businesses to reach 1.4 million annual sales outside China by 2030. A separate Chinese sales company, Anhui Omoda Jaecoo Automobile Co., Ltd., was also established during April 2023, reflecting the organizational importance Chery attached to the two export operations. Chery's public description of Omoda emphasized design and lifestyle. President Zhang Guibing associated the brand with a customer group called the “Fashion Elite,” while Steve Eum was identified as the Chery design executive responsible for the brand direction. Omoda's vehicles have consequently been presented with a more contemporary and style-conscious identity than mainstream Chery products. In Russia, Chery described the brand as occupying a middle-high segment above Chery and below Exeed. In Iran, the brand is known as Ecoda. The first major wave of geographic expansion occurred in 2023 and 2024. South Africa received the marque in April 2023, where Omoda was described as a luxury brand but used Chery dealerships and Chery's support systems. Mexico separated Omoda from the Chirey brand in May 2023 and changed the market identity of the Chirey Omoda 5 to Omoda C5. Western Europe followed with Spain in March 2024, the United Kingdom in May, and Italy in July. The Spanish expansion was accompanied by a production agreement between Chery and EV Motors covering a former Nissan factory in Barcelona. Omoda's portfolio has expanded from the C5 into multiple body sizes and powertrains. The C5/5 remains the central compact crossover family, joined by the battery-electric E5/C5 EV and hybrid C5 SHS-H. The C7/7 and C9/9 extend the range into larger vehicles and offer plug-in-hybrid derivatives. The S5/O5 and S5/O5 GT provide sedan products, while additional C3 and planned C4/4 variants broaden the lower end of the range. Several products are related to vehicles from Chery or other Chery group marques, reflecting the group's practice of adapting existing platforms and models for international branding. By August 2025, Chery reported 600,000 vehicles sold worldwide by Omoda and Jaecoo together during their first 27 months after introduction. Since the disclosure covered both brands jointly, it does not establish Omoda's individual sales. Omoda therefore remains best understood as one component of Chery International's wider export architecture: a branded, design-led automotive business using shared group technology, retail networks, and, in some territories, common dealers with Jaecoo.
- 2025
Omoda C3 introduced
[1]Omoda introduced the C3 in Wuhu in April.
- 2025
Combined Omoda and Jaecoo sales reach 600,000
[1]Chery reported combined worldwide sales of 600,000 vehicles for the two brands over their first 27 months.
- 2024
Omoda enters Spain
[1]Spain became the brand's first Western European market.
- 2024
Barcelona production agreement
[1]Chery and EV Motors agreed to build Omoda vehicles at a former Nissan factory in Barcelona.
- 2024
Omoda enters the United Kingdom and Italy
[1]The brand launched in the United Kingdom in May and officially debuted in Italy in July.
- 2023
Global Omoda and Jaecoo debut
[1]Chery introduced the two sister brands together in Wuhu and outlined their international growth strategy.
- 2023
Dedicated Omoda Jaecoo sales company established
[1]Anhui Omoda Jaecoo Automobile Co., Ltd. was established in China as a sales company for the two brands.
- 2022
Omoda separation announced for Russia
[1]Chery announced that the Omoda family would be separated from the Chery marque and established as an independent brand for the Russian market.
- 2022
Omoda C5 launches in Russia
[1]The Omoda C5 went on sale in Russia, making the country the first market to receive the independently branded vehicle.
Products and positioning
A fashion-oriented, design-led and relatively premium export brand within Chery's portfolio, generally positioned above mainstream Chery and, in some markets, below Exeed.
Compact SUV · 2022
Omoda C5/5
Omoda's core compact crossover, sold under C5 or 5 naming depending on market. It originated from the Chery Omoda 5 and became the first independently branded Omoda vehicle to launch in Russia. The model anchors the brand's international range and is marketed in conventional and electrified forms.
Battery-electric SUV · 2024
Omoda E5/C5 EV
The battery-electric derivative of the C5/5 family. Market naming differs by territory, with E5 and C5 EV used in different markets. It extends Omoda's compact crossover proposition into fully electric mobility.
Midsize SUV · 2025
Omoda C7/7
A larger Omoda crossover introduced in Wuhu in April 2024 and associated with the Chery Tiggo 7L. It broadens the brand's offering beyond the compact C5 and is also sold with a plug-in-hybrid variant in some markets.
Large SUV · 2024
Omoda C9/9
A larger premium-oriented crossover related to the Exeed RX/Yaoguang. It is marketed under C9, 9, or O9 naming and is available with conventional and plug-in-hybrid powertrain variants depending on market.
Passenger sedan · 2023
Omoda S5/O5
A sedan line based on the Chery Arrizo 5 Plus and sold as the S5 or O5 in different territories. The range also includes an O5 GT or S5 GT derivative, giving Omoda a passenger-car offering alongside its SUV portfolio.
Subcompact SUV · 2024
Omoda 3
A subcompact SUV identified as a rebadged Chery Tiggo 3x and listed for the Moroccan market. It extends Omoda branding into a smaller vehicle segment.
Subcompact SUV
Omoda 4
An announced subcompact SUV family planned with conventional, hybrid, and battery-electric versions. The 4 Ultra and 4 EV derivatives were identified as forthcoming variants.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2024
Agree to local production in BarcelonaStrategyBackground
Omoda's European expansion created a need for a regional manufacturing base.
Action taken
Chery signed a joint-venture agreement with EV Motors covering production at a former Nissan factory in Barcelona.
Aftermath
The agreement provided a planned European manufacturing route for Omoda vehicles.
2023
Establish Omoda and Jaecoo as international sister brandsStrategyBackground
Chery's export strategy required distinct brands that could target markets outside China with more premium positioning.
Action taken
Chery presented Omoda and Jaecoo globally as the O&J brands and established a dedicated sales company for them.
Aftermath
The brands expanded into South Africa, Mexico, and Europe while sharing infrastructure in several markets.
2022
Separate Omoda from the Chery marque in RussiaStrategyBackground
Chery sought to create a more premium and fashion-oriented export identity above the mainstream Chery brand.
Action taken
The Omoda family was designated as an independent brand for the Russian market, with the C5 as its first product.
Aftermath
Russia became Omoda's first independent market and the starting point for its wider international rollout.
Recent events
Omoda unveils Omoda X concept car[4]
Reported:
Omoda unveiled the Omoda X concept car overseas. The article says it remains a concept car and whether it will enter production has not been determined.
Sources4 sources
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