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AsiaOne
3 days ago
- Automotive
- AsiaOne
'Definitely a big improvement': How Chery went from cheap joke to become a competitive automotive player, Lifestyle News
Krado Low remembers the first time he drove a Chery in the mid-2000s. "The Chery QQ was memorable, but not for the right reasons," the 41-year-old marketing executive recalled. "It was quite noisy, very unrefined, and felt very cheaply made." "It was quite a torture to drive," he added. Indeed, Chery as a brand did not garner the best reputation when it first arrived in Singapore. The QQ, a tiny little hatchback, was often the butt of jokes, and was derided as a car that one only bought if they were desperate for a new car but could not afford anything else. Chery had other models back then too, like the T11 SUV and the A5 sedan, but they were also widely mocked as budget knockoffs of cars from other manufacturers. Indeed, the fact that Chery's first appearance here coincided with record low Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices in Singapore only served to further the brand's 'cheap' image. Azfar Hashim, a 41-year-old owner of a creative agency, remembered that one could drive away with a brand-new Chery QQ back then for around $30,000, inclusive of COE. If one opted to register it under the Off Peak Car (OPC) scheme, which offered an effective tax rebate of $17,000, the final driveaway price would be lower still. Like Krado, he also had a bad experience driving a Chery from that period. "I remember that the Chery T11 I test drove had a lingering plastic smell in the interior, and after a while I got a headache from the smell," he recalls. Still, Azfar observed that even though the T11 was lacking in refinement and build quality, it was a fairly spacious SUV, and offered decent value if one was willing to look past its flaws. Nevertheless, Chery generally suffered from poor sales in Singapore despite its budget pricing, and it struggled here until 2017 when its local distributor finally stopped importing cars from the brand. But with the rapid development of Chinese cars over the past few years, surely the Chery of today would be a vast improvement from back then? Indeed they are, as I found out when Chery invited AsiaOne to visit the brand's home city in Wuhu, China and check out some of their latest models to see how much has changed since those early days. One of the more intriguing aspects of the trip was a visit to the company's headquarters, where they showcased not only their wide array of current modern cars, but also displayed a few of their early models alongside, ostensibly to provide a contrast of how far the company has come in two decades of development. Today's Chery is a massive car-making conglomerate, and is the fourth largest automotive group in China, with several brands under its stable. Aside from the main Chery brand, it also offers two SUV-focused brands, Jetour and iCar, that both target different segments of the market. It also has two luxury premium brands, Exeed and Luxeed, with the latter being a joint collaboration with tech giant Huawei that focuses on high-tech electric vehicles (EVs). But what's unique about Chery that sets it apart from other Chinese carmakers is that it also has a completely different product and branding strategy for export markets, with a whole separate slate of brands that are specifically meant for overseas use. Most of these are often closely based on what Chery offers domestically. For example, Exlantix is mostly the export equivalent of Exeed, likewise Aiqar for iCar. Chery also announced at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show that it will be introducing Lepas, an all-new budget brand meant for less developed markets. The most prominent ones however are Omoda and Jaecoo, which were the first of Chery's export brands introduced in 2022. They have expanded their reach rapidly since then, making their way to several countries in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including Singapore. While some markets, like Malaysia, continue to use the Chery branding for some of the new generation models, the local distributor in Singapore has wisely opted otherwise, and decided to focus on the Omoda and Jaecoo branding when the carmaker returned to our shores in 2024. It's clearly a move to distance itself from the poor reputation that Chery had previously garnered here, and while it's still too early to judge on the success of the relaunch, from a product perspective, it looks like there have been massive improvements since then. The Omoda E5, which was the first car that marked Chery's comeback here, is a well-made electric crossover that can easily compete with the best mainstream offerings on the market. The Jaecoo J6 meanwhile is an electric SUV with very capable off-road abilities, and offers an interesting choice for those looking for something rugged and unique. The one that really made a statement though, is the Jaecoo J7, an SUV with a plug-in hybrid powerplant that could legitimately drive for more than 1,000km before needing to be recharged or refuelled. It's arguably the most impressive product so far from Chery's rebranding offensive, and one that has made consumers here sit up and take them seriously. Indeed, when both Azfar and Krado took a brief test drive in the J7 back in Singapore, they came away seeing the brand in a different light. Azfar remarked that the J7 had "a rather refined drive", and noted that the vast improvements in build quality, driving ability and overall package meant that the car brand "warrants a closer look from consumers." Likewise, Krado also noticed the improvements in refinement and build quality, and was also impressed by the level of standard equipment. "It's very well equipped," he pointed out, adding, "I like that the back seats can be adjusted with a few different angles, and there's also fully electric seat adjustments in front." There's certainly more in store for the brand ahead. During AsiaOne's visit to Wuhu, I was given a preview of the Jaecoo J8, a luxury SUV that bears more than a passing resemblance to offerings from premium brands like Audi and BMW, and is a sign of where Chery is aiming their sights. I also got a first look at the Omoda C3, a compact crossover that's boldly styled and targeted at younger customers. Its cyberpunk-inspired design is the brainchild of a development team that has an average age of 28, and among its highlights include an infotainment system that can be hooked up to gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch, turning it into a mobile game machine. While the future does look bright for Chery, there is definitely still room for improvement. AsiaOne's visit to Wuhu was part of Chery's week-long International Business Summit 2025, which saw over 2,000 guests from all over the world descend onto Chery's hometown, and it was somewhat clear that the company was not ready to handle international events of such a massive scale. Much of the trip felt rather disorganised, and occasionally chaotic, with many of the media guests and dealer partners frustrated at the perceived lack of planning and communication. The inexperience in organisation from the hosts was pretty telling, and some of the programme highlights, like the visit to the theme park and concert on the final day, just felt bizarre and out of place. Nevertheless, those are probably just hiccups, and hopefully it can offer Chery some valuable learning lessons as the company figures out how to cater to an international audience. In terms of actual cars though, there's no doubt that they are well on their way to delivering competitive products that can take on some of the best in the industry. The final word will be decided by the consumers themselves, of course, but as Krado notes, the brand has "definitely made a big improvement" from when it first emerged on the scene. In fact, the difference is so stark that even he was taken by surprise. "If you didn't tell me that this (Jaecoo J7) is from Chery, I wouldn't have known," he said. Given the development trajectory that Chery is on, it will surely be a matter of time before it loses the last vestiges of its cheap and nasty reputation. [[nid:712933]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Shreyanka Patil returns as India A name squads for multi-format Australia tour
Shreyanka Patil has made a return as India A announced their squads for the upcoming multi-format tour of Australia. The all-rounder, who has not played any competitive cricket since the Women's T20 World Cup last year in the UAE and missed the Women's Premier League 2025 due to injury, has been named in the T20 her selection is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE). Earlier this year, Shreyanka earned a Grade C contract in the BCCI central contracts. She is also one of three Indians - alongside Salonee Dangore and Shikha Pandey - picked in the WCPL 2025 Priya Mishra has been selected for both the one-day and four-day squads, though her inclusion is also contingent on passing a fitness test. Radha Yadav has been named captain across all three formats, with Minnu Mani appointed as vice-captain. Minnu had led the side during India A's tour of Australia last Verma, who recently returned to the national team during the tour of England, features in all three squads. Bengal pacer Titas Sadhu and Uttarakhand wicketkeeper Nandini Kashyap also find spots across T20 matches are scheduled for August 7, 9, and 10 in Mackay, followed by the one-dayers on August 13, 15, and 17 at Norths. The tour will conclude with a four-day match at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane, starting August A T20 squad for Australia tourRadha Yadav (C), Minnu Mani (VC), Shafali Verma, D. Vrinda, Sajana Sajeevan, Uma Chetry (WK), Raghvi Bist, Shreyanka Patil*, Prema Rawat, Nandini Kashyap (WK), Tanuja Kanwer, Joshita VJ, Shabnam Shakeel, Saima Thakor, Titas SadhuIndia A One-Day and Four-day squad for Australia tourRadha Yadav (C), Minnu Mani (VC), Shafali Verma, Tejal Hasabnis, Raghvi Bist, Tanushree Sarkar, Uma Chetry (WK), Priya Mishra*, Tanuja Kanwer, Nandini Kashyap (WK), Dhara Gujjar, Joshita VJ, Shabnam Shakeel, Saima Thakor, Titas Sadhu- EndsTrending Reel
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Novak Djokovic sets up Jannik Sinner showdown at Wimbledon
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LONDON - Novak Djokovic's pursuit of yet more career milestones continued unabated as he reached a record 14th Wimbledon semi-final and a showdown with world number one Jannik Sinner on July 9. The 38-year-old Serb recovered from a set down to beat Flavio Cobolli 6-7(6) 6-2 7-5 6-4 and is now only two victories away from an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title. Blocking his path next is a rather more formidable Italian in the form of Sinner who eased any worries about an elbow injury to beat American powerhouse Ben Shelton 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4. In the women's quarter-finals, Poland's claycourt specialist Iga Swiatek broke new ground by reaching her first Wimbledon semi-final, beating Liudmila Samsonova 6-2 7-5. The eighth seed will face Switzerland's unseeded Belinda Bencic who edged out Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 7-6(3) 7-6(2) to also reach her first semi-final at the grasscourt slam. By reaching a record-extending 52nd Grand Slam semi, Djokovic also kept alive his hopes of equalling Roger Federer's men's record eight Wimbledon singles titles. It remains a tall order even for a player widely regarded as the greatest of all time, especially with top seed Sinner and Spain's holder Carlos Alcaraz, the two new powers in men's tennis, most people's bet to contest the final on July 13. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore COE prices rise for all categories Singapore Govt watching job situation for fresh graduates closely, exploring further support: Gan Siow Huang Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student Singapore People working in air-conditioned spaces prefer 24 deg C and warmer: Survey But no one should be writing off Djokovic who has won 44 of his last 46 matches at the All England Club and seems to know every single blade of grass on the historic Centre Court. 'It means the world to me that at 38 I am able to play in the final stages of Wimbledon,' Djokovic, who suffered a nasty slip on match point but appeared unscathed, said. 'Competing with youngsters makes me feel young, like Cobolli today. I enjoy running and sliding around the court. Speaking of the young guys, I will have Sinner in the next round so I look forward to that. That is going to be a great match-up.' Sinner injury Sinner may well have been back home in Italy had Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov not damaged his right pectoral muscle and retired with a two-set lead in the fourth round on July 7. The three-times Grand Slam champion also sustained an elbow injury early on in that match and there was some doubt about his physical state ahead of his clash with 10th seed Shelton. But he produced a clinical performance, reeling off seven successive points to win the first-set tiebreak and then pouncing in the 10th game of the next two sets to match his run to the semi-final two years ago when he lost to Djokovic. Sinner, bidding to become the first Italian to win a Wimbledon singles title, wore a protective sleeve on his right arm but was rock solid against the big-serving Shelton. 'I had quite good feelings in the warm-up today,' Sinner, who dropped only six points on his first serve, said. 'I put into my mind that I'm going to play today. So the concerns were not that big if I would play or not. 'It was just a matter of what my percentage is. Today was very high, so I'm happy.' Swiatek appears to have finally overcome her grass court demons and the four-times French Open champion could not hide her delight at reaching the semi-final at the sixth attempt. 'Honestly, it feels great. I have goosebumps after this win. I am super happy and super proud of myself and I will keep going. I worked really hard to progress here on this surface.' Former Olympic champion Bencic became the first Swiss woman to reach the semis since Martina Hingis in 1998 after stunning 18-year-old seventh seed Andreeva on Centre Court. 'It's crazy, it's unbelievable. It's a dream come true,' the 28-year-old mother said. 'I'm just speechless.' Bencic will face Swiatek on July 10 after top seed Aryna Sabalenka takes on 13th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova. The first silverware of this year's tournament will also be decided on July 10, when Dutchman Sem Verbeek and Czech Katerina Siniakova face Britain's Joe Salisbury and Brazil's Luisa Stefani in the mixed doubles final on Centre Court. REUTERS
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump eyes African mineral wealth in trade-focused summit
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US President Donald Trump (third from left) speaking at his lunch with African leaders at the White House on July 9. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump hailed West Africa's rich natural resources as he hosted five of its leaders on July 9 for a White House summit aimed at fostering trade to counter the growing influence of Russia and China. Mr Trump's administration is seeking to strengthen economic ties with the mineral-rich region as it simultaneously curbs foreign aid to Africa and hits nations with 10 per cent import tariffs. Talks with the presidents of Senegal, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon were expected to focus on commercial opportunities and security. 'We're working tirelessly to forge new economic opportunities involving both the United States and many African nations,' Mr Trump told the assembled leaders and reporters ahead of the meeting. 'There's great economic potential in Africa, like few other places, in many ways.' He gushed about the continent's 'vibrant places, very valuable lands, great minerals, great oil deposits' – and was rewarded with personal praise in return as each leader offered their approval when asked by an African media outlet if Mr Trump should win a Nobel Peace Prize. The talks – held over a lunch in the State Dining Room – came with Washington seeking to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore COE prices rise for all categories Singapore Govt watching job situation for fresh graduates closely, exploring further support: Gan Siow Huang Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student Singapore People working in air-conditioned spaces prefer 24 deg C and warmer: Survey All five of the countries invited enjoy rich natural resources, including manganese – a key mineral in the production of stainless steel and batteries – iron ore, gold, diamonds, lithium and cobalt. But overshadowing the talks will be radical steps by Trump and his officials to recalibrate US relations with African nations. Earlier this month, the administration shuttered the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and said it was moving away from a 'charity based-model' to focus instead on trade-based partnerships. West Africa is expected to be among the regions hardest hit by the aid cuts, which are likely to lead to more than 14 million additional deaths globally by 2030, according to a study published in the Lancet medical journal. Drug trafficking and immigration US financial help played a crucial role in rebuilding Liberia after its civil wars, and it was still receiving an annual US$160 million (S$200 million) – about 3 per cent of its GDP – as recently as 2024. 'Liberia is a long time friend of the United States, and we believe in your policy of making America great again,' President Joseph Boakai told Mr Trump. 'And we also go a long way with you and your in your diplomacy that has to do with economic development and commercial friendship.' US arch-rival China has made substantial investments in several of the nations attending, with Gabon providing 22 per cent of the manganese it uses in batteries. Russia has, meanwhile, supported the nascent Alliance of Sahel States, which shares borders with several of the countries at the July 9 lunch. Security is expected to loom large at the meeting, with international drug trafficking and immigration top concerns for Washington. West Africa's Sahel countries have been dogged by attacks from terrorist groups, while a series of coups have deepened political instability. Entries from the region make up a significant portion of the Black immigrant population in the United States, which rose by almost a quarter between 2012 and 2022, reaching 4.3 million individuals. Guinea-Bissau – a transit zone for cocaine shipments from Latin America to Europe and beyond – has struggled to contain drug trafficking. 'Guinea-Bissau is a peaceful country, and we are a small country. But we are a great state – not a great state like the United States, but we're a great country as well,' said the country's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. A potential US travel ban impacting Gabon, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal was reported in June, as part of a larger list of 36 countries facing scrutiny by the Trump administration. AFP
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Sweden's Asllani gives away special shirt after fan's heartfelt plea
ST. GALLEN, Switzerland - Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani had every intention of keeping the shirt she wore for her 200th cap in her side's 1-0 win over Denmark in their Women's Euros opener last week, but a woman's pleas from the stands as she left the pitch put paid to that idea. "She was my mum's age and I thought, 'If she really wants it, she can have it'. I have so many shirts at home anyway," Asllani told reporters after her side progressed to the knockout rounds following a 3-0 win over Poland on Tuesday. "I wanted to keep it, but when the woman's voice sounded so desperate as she called out, I decided I wanted to give it away." The 35-year-old, whose parents are from Kosovo, said she was a little surprised when she heard the fan, identified by Swedish newspaper Expressen as a 60-year-old Geneva resident from Kosovo named Flora, called out to her. "It was nice, I knew she was from Kosovo, she called to me in Albanian. She was my mother's age and very sweet, she deserved it," Asllani said. The fan said that the Swedish captain, who created one goal and scored another in her side's win over Poland, was her favourite player and that she had a plan for what she wanted to do with the shirt. "I'm going to take the shirt with me to Kosovo, where her parents are from, to share my joy with her fans there," Flora told Expressen. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Tremendous opportunities for growth in US-Singapore ties, says Trump's ambassador nominee Sinha Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore COE prices rise for all categories Singapore Govt watching job situation for fresh graduates closely, exploring further support: Gan Siow Huang Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student Singapore People working in air-conditioned spaces prefer 24 deg C and warmer: Survey
