► Smaller Omoda 2 planned following brand’s success
► European focus is the main aim
► Omoda keen to tailor models to specific markets
Omoda is set to launch a smaller SUV with a stronger European focus, prompted by its huge success so far in the region.
The move has also, in part, been prompted by the Omoda 3 being renamed to the Omoda 4 to give it more interior space than originally planned, leaving the door open for a smaller car beneath.
The Chinese car firm, which is part of the Chery automotive group, revealed its Omoda 3 in April 2025 but has now renamed it to the Omoda 4 for the production model. Top executives say the change was made after ‘listening to customer feedback’. At 4.4m in length, the new Omoda 4 is almost the exact size as the existing Omoda 5, leaving the door open for smaller models beneath.
When asked at the reveal of the Omoda 4 if a more compact model from the firm was planned, Arturo Arino, design director at Chery International confirmed that an Omoda 2 was in the pipeline but wouldn’t be tied down on further details, other than hinting at a general market trend for more ‘compact rugged-looking vehicles’.
Shawn Xu, global CEO of Omoda and Jaecoo echoed this, saying he was impressed so far by the two brands’ performance in the UK and was planning for further ‘rapid growth’, including with smaller vehicles.
When asked if smaller Omoda vehicles were also planned for the European region, Xu said: ‘Exactly that, it’s a good question. [The] UK and Europe have a lot of demand for smaller and compact cars. China needs very big cars, Europe needs smaller cars, particularly for younger people who like something fashionable.
‘We would like something smaller, but it needs to have a five-star Euro NCAP rating. We are considering something smaller for Europe, especially for other markets such as France where they like smaller car.
‘We are not going to make too many cars, we won’t rush. Each car we want to be good and fully prepared for our target customers. For Omoda, we have Omoda 5 first and Omoda 7 very soon and then Omoda 4 and then there could be a smaller car.’
Prompted by huge growth in all continents of the world, Chery is doubling up on its regional development centres, and has already confirmed plans to set up an R&D centre in the UK, which is already one of its most successful overseas markets.
Both Jaecoo and Omoda have been hugely successful since launching in the UK, and are some of the largest export markets for the two brands, which don’t actually exist as such in China. UK sales to date to the end of September) stand at 18,170 and 14,223 for Jaeceoo and Omoda respectively. Both are now registering more cars in the UK than established mainstream brands such as Citroen, Fiat and Lexus, despite only having a couple of cars in their current line-ups.
Next up in the plan for Omoda is the 7, a larger plug-in hybrid family SUV to rival the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan, which is expected to launch in the UK early in 2026. The Omoda 4 will then be introduced around six months later, with a smaller Omoda 2 likely to launch in 2027.
New cars editor, car reviewer, news hound, avid car detailer
By Ted Welford
New cars editor for CAR and Parkers. Loves a car auction. Enjoys making things shiny
