Chery Group has claimed a top-five market position in Australia after recording its strongest-ever monthly sales result in May 2026, though the milestone comes with an important qualification.
According to the company, combined sales from the Chery and Omoda Jaecoo brands reached 6,971 vehicles in May, placing the group fifth among automotive companies operating in Australia. Chery contributed 4,401 sales, while Omoda Jaecoo accounted for 2,570 deliveries.
The result means Chery Group sat behind only Toyota, Hyundai Motor Group, BYD and Ford during the month. However, the achievement is based on combining sales from two separate brands rather than the Chery marque alone.
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Is Chery now a top-five car brand in Australia?
Not exactly.
While Chery Group ranked fifth when sales from Chery and Omoda Jaecoo were combined, the Chery brand itself delivered 4,401 vehicles in May. That placed it outside Australia’s top five individual automotive brands and closer to rivals such as GWM, MG and Mitsubishi.
The distinction is important because Chery has previously stated its ambition of making the Chery brand itself a top-five player in Australia by 2027.
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Chery’s growth in Australia continues
Despite the caveat, the latest result highlights how quickly Chery has expanded since relaunching in Australia as a factory-backed operation in 2023.
The company says May marked its 23rd consecutive month of sales growth, with demand supported by a growing range of petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Strong performances from the Chery Tiggo 4 and Jaecoo J5 also helped drive sales, with both models securing positions among Australia’s top-selling passenger vehicles during the month.
“Reaching a top-five position in Australia is an important milestone for our business, but more importantly it demonstrates that Australian consumers are increasingly embracing Chinese automotive brands,” said Chery Group Australia CEO Lewis Lu.
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More brands and models are on the way
Chery’s local expansion is far from over.
The company has confirmed plans to launch the KP31 ute, the all-new Omoda 4 crossover and the Lepas brand in Australia. Additional brands including iCaur and Freelander are also expected to join the local market in the coming years.
The strategy will give Chery Group a broader presence across multiple vehicle segments and price points, though it may also make it harder to measure the success of any individual brand within the group.
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What does this mean for Australia’s car market?
May’s sales figures reinforce the growing influence of Chinese automotive brands in Australia.
While established players such as Toyota, Ford and Hyundai continue to dominate the market, brands including Chery, BYD, GWM and MG have rapidly increased their market share over the past few years.
For Chery, the latest result represents another milestone in its Australian comeback story. The bigger challenge now will be converting strong group sales into a genuine top-five position for the Chery brand itself.
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