Chinese automobile manufacturer Chery opens its R&D and design center in Raunheim

Chery

© CHERY

The automotive industry in Hessen is experiencing prominent growth. Chery Automobile, one of the best-known Chinese automobile manufacturers is settling in the region FrankfurtRheinMain.

The company is one of the largest manufacturers of SUVs, compact and mid-size vehicles in China. The group employs approximately 14,000 people worldwide. Chery will open a center for R&D and design in Raunheim at the beginning of 2019. With this location decision, the FrankfurtRheinMain region prevailed against several German competitors in the choice of location.

"It is a great success for FrankfurtRheinMain that all those involved succeeded together in locating Chery Automobile in the region," says Eric Menges, President & CEO of FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH International Marketing of the Region (FRM GmbH). Dr. Rainer Waldschmit, CEO of Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH adds: “Hessen is characterized by a large number of highly qualified and specialized automotive specialists. The establishment of another international automobile manufacturer confirms the future viability of the Hesse location and expands the offer in the automotive region of Rhein-Main-Neckar with a well-known manufacturer.”

Thomas Will, District Administrator of the Groß-Gerau district, adds: "One of the most important reasons for Chery's decision to locate the R&D Center in the Airport Garden in Raunheim is the combination of representative space, infrastructure and expansion options. The economic strength of the FrankfurtRheinMain region and its excellent transport connections are also not to be underestimated arguments for locating here".

Chery was founded in 1997 in Wuhu in the province of Anhui. The company's first vehicle rolled off the production line in 1999. The automobile manufacturer now produces around 700,000 cars per year. The Chery model range is large. A total of more than 20 different vehicles are available in a total of 80 countries. With around 110,000 export units in 2017, Chery has already been China's largest car exporter for 15 years. Chery currently maintains two research centers in China and a total of 14 production sites, with four main plants in China. Among other things, Chery operates joint venture companies with Jaguar Land Rover in China and CAOA in Brazil.

As part of its global R&D strategy, Chery Automobile initially plans to create around 30-50 jobs in Hessen in the first 12 months.