The Chery QQ Returns: From Controversy to Confidence in China's Compact EV Race
By Team Dailyrevs April 8, 2025
Chery QQ Returns as Electric Car:
Back from a ten-year absence, the QQ is reborn with a striking new look and zero-emission status.-
From Copycat Accusations to True Original:
Chery's path from Daewoo Matiz furore to assertive, standalone design language. -
Primed for Global Urban Markets:
Engineered for compact city driving, the new QQ is targeting young buyers worldwide seeking affordable electric mobility.
The Chery QQ Returns: A Design Evolution and Redemption Story
When Chery initially released the QQ back in the early 2000s, it was all over the news—though not always for the most positive reasons. The vehicle, which was rapidly becoming a top seller in China because of its ultra-low cost and young styling, also drew into the whirlwind.
Back in 2004, General Motors had alleged that Chery had plagiarized the Daewoo Matiz, a charge that prompted action in court and years of public scrutiny. GM asserted that the QQ and the Matiz had "remarkably similar body structure, exterior design, interior design and major components," and attempted to safeguard its Spark model, the successor to the Matiz under Chevrolet branding.
Fast forward to 2025, and Chery has clearly decided it’s time to flip the script. The iconic QQ is making a comeback—not as a cheeky petrol-powered hatchback but as a sharp-looking, fully electric city car with aspirations far beyond China’s borders.
A Futuristic Leap
Official images released by Chery’s Deputy General Manager Li Xueyong ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show unveil a car that is unmistakably forward-looking.
The new QQ sports a sleek two-tone black and white exterior, a fully closed grille, bold geometric headlights, and a body free of traditional door handles—replaced by seamless contours and digital side mirrors.
The wheels, adorned with '+' shaped rims, further emphasize the car’s visual departure from its past. Minimalist but expressive, it looks purpose-built for tight city spaces and modern buyers.
Click here to view more detailed images of the all-new Chery QQ.
Redemption in Design
What makes the QQ’s return so compelling is how it symbolizes the evolution of Chery’s design maturity. Once a state-backed automaker accused of copying, Chery is now showing that it can go toe-to-toe with the design powerhouses of the global auto industry.
The vehicle proudly bears the “Chery Design” mark along its side skirt—proof that the company is not hiding behind borrowed ideas anymore.
It’s a milestone not just for the QQ, but for the Chinese auto industry, which was once dismissed by critics as lacking originality. Over the last decade, Chery and its contemporaries have steadily built up their internal R&D capabilities, and the QQ stands as a shining example of that progress.
Positioning and Possibilities
Chery has made it clear: the new QQ isn’t just a domestic reboot—it’s a car meant for global streets. Though technical specifications are still under wraps, the vehicle is expected to rival China’s best-selling electric mini—the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV—in both price and performance.
Its compact footprint and eye-catching design make it a strong candidate for young, urban buyers in cities like Shanghai, Dubai, or even Berlin.
With rising interest in budget EVs across Europe and the Middle East, and with global infrastructure gradually favoring electric mobility, Chery’s timing might just be perfect.
From Copy to Competitor
In 2005, few would have imagined Chery could evolve from being labeled a copycat to a legitimate player in automotive design. But here we are.
The QQ has gone from being a punchline in intellectual property lawsuits to a flagship in Chery’s electric future.
In that sense, the QQ’s return isn’t just about selling a car—it’s about rewriting a reputation. And this time, it’s Chery that’s setting the tone.
Click here to see The New Chery QQ's pictures in detail.