Chery revives the QQ nameplate with new compact EV

Quick look

• The QQ was a significant model 20 years ago when Chery introduced it in China as an affordable first car. It was also sold in Malaysia for a while, priced at RM50,000.

• The new Chery Q is a descendant of the QQ and instead of an 812 cc 3-cylinder engine, it has a fully electric drivetrain.

Chery has revived the nameplate of one of its significant early models with the debut of the new Chery Q at the 2026 Bangkok International Motor Show which is on this week. The Q is a descendant of the QQ which was a compact hatchback launched in China in 2003 and presented as ‘an affordable ‘first car’ for young buyers’.

Malaysians will remember that model being sold for a while in the early 2000s by Alado, Chery’s local business partner. The model had an 812 cc 3-cylinder engine with manual or automated manual transmission (AMT). It was priced at around RM40,000 at that time, very cheap for a CBU import but still above the prices of Perodua’s entry-level models.

Apart from being the first Chinese passenger car to appear in the market, the other interesting development was that it was priced below RM50,000, which was considered national brand territory that other automakers did not venture into.

However, in spite of its low price, the little hatchback did not catch on with Malaysians and Alado focussed on larger models like the Tiggo (then known as the T240), A160 sedan and Eastar MPV, which were assembled locally.

Legal battle with GM
The QQ was also the subjectdesign was a copy of the Chevrolet Spark (originally developed as the Daewoo Matiz). The two companies came to a settlement that did not stop Chery from selling the QQ. GM had also tried to take legal action against Chery as it felt the brand name was too close to ‘Chevy’, its ‘international’ brand. That case also ended with a settlement that no further action would be taken.

The modern QQ
Original QQ production ended in 2014 and the model went dormant. In 2021, Chery brought back the nameplate for a new compact EV model called the QQ Ice Cream which was a 3-door hatchback. This was followed by the QQ3 which was launched in 2025. It is a larger model with 5 doors and sits on Chery’s T12 BEV platform.

Perhaps it had partly to do with the QQ name but response was strong and within a week of presales starting, Chery reported receiving almost 36,000 orders. Many may have fondly remembered the QQ as their first car and are happy to see it reborn in the 21st century.

The QQ3 is now going global with the launch of the Chery Q in Thailand. The export version has a rear-mounted electric motor producing 90 kW (122 ps)/115 Nm and with a 42.7 kWh battery, a range of 400 kms is claimed.

Chery aims to make it a strong contender in the EV segment and has priced it between 400,000 – 500,000 baht (around RM49,000 – RM60,000). It is almost certain to be among the models made at Chery Thailand’s NEV Hub (New Energy Vehicle Hub) which will include battery assembly.

Like Malaysia, the Thai government also aims to boost the EV industry. It is offering incentives such as tax cuts and subsidies for buyers as well as prmoting battery manufacture. The charging infrastructure is also being rapidly expanded. And following its playbook since the 1990s, it plans to encourage automakers with plants in Thailand to also export their EVs to other markets in the region.

Q for Malaysia?
While Chery is planning to export from Thailand to regional markets, the Q might not make it to Malaysia. With the two national brands dominant at the entry end of the market and being well established, it would be hard for the Q to make a big impact. As it is, Proton already offers its e.MAS 5 for RM60,000 and that’s selling very well.

And Chery Malaysia does already have an EV model – the OMODA E5 – which is assembled locally at the Inokom plant in Kedah. It also offers two other EV models under the iCAUR brand, so it has a presence in the EV segment, and a stronger presence in the hybrid electric segment.

Chery Malaysia’s growth strategy in 2026