Ride and comfort
Refining how the suspension deals with broken surfaces, speed changes and longer journeys.
The story in brief
What has been announced?
- A new Chery Automobile UK R&D Centre of Excellence is planned at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire.
- The facility is expected to open in late autumn 2026.
- Early work will focus on chassis and driver-assistance systems for British roads and drivers.
- The engineering will support Chery's wider brand family, including Chery, OMODA and JAECOO.
OMODA and JAECOO are part of an exciting new chapter for Chery in the UK. The company has announced plans for a dedicated research and development centre at UTAC Millbrook, one of Britain's best-known vehicle testing sites.
The new base is expected to open in late autumn 2026. It will give Chery's engineers a place to develop and validate vehicles specifically for UK roads, rather than relying only on work completed elsewhere.
For drivers considering a Chery, OMODA or JAECOO, that means the people tuning future cars will be able to work with British road surfaces, traffic patterns and customer feedback much closer to home.
Developed with Britain in mind
What will the engineers work on?
The first projects will focus on chassis dynamics and the tuning of driver-assistance systems for UK-specification vehicles. In plain English, that covers how a car rides, steers and helps the driver in everyday situations.
Steering response
Balancing easy low-speed driving with a reassuring feel on faster and more demanding roads.
Driver assistance
Calibrating active-safety technology for UK signs, lanes, traffic and typical driving behaviour.
Future technology
Building a base that could later support work in autonomous driving and artificial intelligence.
A very British test
Built around the roads we actually use
British driving can change character in a few miles. A smooth motorway can lead into a tight roundabout, a narrow country lane or a town centre full of stop-start traffic.
Millbrook's mix of routes and specialist surfaces gives engineers a controlled way to repeat those situations. It should help them fine-tune steering, suspension and active-safety systems with the UK firmly in mind.
Growing UK presence
Investment follows strong demand
The announcement comes as Chery's UK presence continues to grow. Figures reported using Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders data show that Chery, OMODA and JAECOO together accounted for almost 8% of the UK new-car market in July 2026, compared with around 3% a year earlier.
The JAECOO 7 has been one of the most visible parts of that growth, becoming the UK's best-selling new car in March 2026. The planned engineering centre shows that the company is now looking beyond vehicle launches and building a longer-term UK operation.
Almost 8% Combined share of the UK new-car market in July 2026, as reported from SMMT figures.
Long-term plans
More than vehicle sales
Chery says it wants to recruit local engineering talent as the centre develops, creating skilled roles and adding further areas of expertise over time. Investment and job numbers have not yet been confirmed, so the scale of that recruitment will become clearer as the site moves towards opening.
A separate, non-binding agreement also means Nissan and Chery are exploring the possibility of producing Chery passenger vehicles at Nissan's Sunderland plant from the 2027 financial year. That proposal is not yet a confirmed manufacturing programme, but it adds useful context to Chery's wider ambitions in Britain.
The customer view
What could this mean for drivers?
The benefit will not arrive as one headline feature. It is more likely to be felt in the small things: steering that suits a quick roundabout, suspension that feels settled on an uneven road, or assistance systems calibrated for the traffic around us.
That is why local development matters. It gives engineers a shorter route from UK customer feedback to the next round of vehicle improvements.
A growing choice at Invicta
Discover Chery, OMODA and JAECOO
Across the three brands, drivers can compare family SUVs in different sizes and choose from petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric power. Model availability and offers change, so the latest brand pages are the best place to start.
Chery
Explore the TIGGO SUV family, from the compact TIGGO 4 Super Hybrid to five-seat, seven-seat and flagship models.
OMODA
Discover a modern SUV range that includes compact, mid-size and flagship choices across several powertrains.
JAECOO
Compare the JAECOO 5, JAECOO 7 and JAECOO 8 families, with technology, comfort and everyday capability at their heart.
Visit your local Invicta showroom
Explore the latest models, check current availability and arrange a test drive with the team at your nearest Chery, OMODA or JAECOO location.
Invicta Chery showrooms
Invicta OMODA & JAECOO showrooms
Sources and further reading
- Reuters: Chery Automobile to establish a UK research centre, 19 August 2026.
- Motor Trade News: Chery Automobile to open R&D facility at UTAC Millbrook, 19 August 2026.
- The Guardian: Chery takes its next step in the UK with a Bedfordshire R&D centre, 19 August 2026.
- The Guardian: Nissan and Chery explore potential Sunderland production, 3 June 2026.
- Current Chery range, current OMODA range and current JAECOO range at Invicta Motors, checked 26 August 2026.
