Chery: New Cars 2012

By Tim Beissmann | January 17th, 2012

After launching its first three models in Australia in 2011, the local distributor of Chery, Ateco Automotive, says 2012 will be about consolidation for the Chinese brand.

Ateco’s Daniel Cotterill said at least the first six months of 2012 would be spent focusing on the J1 light car, J3 small car and J11 compact SUV before any new models were considered. He said the brand had a number of targets for the New Year, but declined to elaborate on exactly what it hoped to achieve or what it would deem as success.

With one month of sales results still to come for 2011, Chery has sold 1654 vehicles across Australia since launching the J1 and J11 in February and the J3 in September, putting it ahead of better-established brands like Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Renault and Ssangyong.

Year-to-date, the J1 has outsold cars like the Proton Savvy, Smart Fortwo and the Fiat 500, while the J11 is well clear of the Jeep Patriot, Renault Koleos, Ssangyong Korando and the Suzuki Jimny.

While Chery Australia is still working on equipping its cars with electronic stability control (ESC), at this stage there is no confirmation of when the potentially life-saving safety feature will become standard on any model. Until it fits its cars with ESC, it will continue to be banned from selling them in Victoria.

Westie

Just shows how many Australians have no clue whatsoever, and are happy to drive a dangerous and outdated car just because it’s new.

Danielsmith98

While I must counter by saying that a new Chery is going to be safer than a 15 or 20 year old Hyundai – Daewoo – Kia – (insert name of cheap car here), For the minimal saving of only a few grand on a well engineered car they can be afforded no mercy for shortcomings. Yes they are made very cheap – but the J3 should be a $10,000 drive away car, not $15,000.

Spend $2,000 more and get a modern Accent with 5 star safety, more power, less consumption, reliability, and infinately better build quality.

Dan

A 15-20 year old Hyundai-Daewoo-Kia will cost a few hundred bucks, versus thing, not a fair comparison.

Danielsmith98

Good point, I was thinking in terms of tempting someone out of a car they have owned for many years, or for those who have finally aquired the income or motivation to get away from driving one old bomb after another (keeping old bombs going can cost the same as loan repayments on a cheap new car)

My belief is if you have saved $5,000 and are going to borrow the rest on a cheap new car (5 year loan) – These cars represent no value what so ever. Stretch your budget $2,000 more and get a car that will at least give you 10 years service.

John

Too right. At $10,000 you just might buy the J3, as an alternative to a second-hand car.

But at $15,000? That’s no bargain. In fact, at that price it’s a deadset rip-off.

0o0

the Chery J3 has 4 star safety and is design by Pininfarina the same company design most the ferrari cars.

PoisonEagle

They are disgusting and loathesome cars with absolutely nothing going for them .How they managed to pass ADRs is a mystery, and perhaps something that should be examined.
horse

so you have driven all three have you eagle ?

PoisonEagle

What does that have to do with anything? They are sub standard and behind the times. You don’t have to drive one to realise that just look at the spec sheet!
Driving one would only confirm a foregone conclusion and that is the consensus from press who have driven them aswell.
I’m not doubting they’re reliable and fill some esoteric need, but they are backwater cars and thus overpriced.

Jack

Cut the bull…

Your only problem with these cars is that they’re made by coloured skin people. If they had an Alfa 147 badge, you’d be happy with the 3 stars crash rating.

The Japs met with the same denigration but they’re now so established that you can’t dispute their superiority so you call them “bland” for example.

It’s much easier to pick on the Chinese.

But laugh all you can. The Japs, the Koreans, the South Africans, the Malaysians, Thais, Poles etc etc… all started, caught up and have overtaken you while you marvel at your own ingenuity and produce falcodores.

UniversityOfGoogle

What will we do when theres no one to pick on?!

fav aussie past time gnna die out noooooo
ajdunbar

It has nothing to do with racism. Chinese cars are total crap.

The early Japanese cars sold in Australia had excellent build quality, reliability, high trim specifications, powerful advanced engines, excellent transmissions and sophisticated independent suspensions. The Datsun 240z was a direct competitor to the Porsche 911 and E type jaguar. The Datsun 1600 and Mazda RX-2 were as good as contemporary BMW or Alfa Romeo models.