LEPAS is targeting around 60 fully operational UK dealerships by the end of 2026, rising to 90 by the end of 2027, with more than 50 standalone outlets already in various stages of fitting out and construction. Arnold Clark and Stoneacre Motor Group are among the dealer groups joining the network. LEPAS, the new energy vehicle brand from Chery Auto, confirmed the retail figures at its official UK launch event in London’s King’s Cross this week, where it also unveiled the L6 EV in full UK specification ahead of an autumn on-sale date.
Highlights
- Retail footprint: More than 50 standalone LEPAS outlets are fitting out or under construction, with around 60 targeted as fully operational by the end of 2026 and 90 by the end of 2027.
- Named dealer groups: Arnold Clark and Stoneacre Motor Group have joined the network.
- Model rollout: The L6 EV was shown in full UK specification ahead of an autumn launch, joined by preview versions of the L6 PHEV and L4 EV.
- Launch scale: More than 400 invited guests attended the event at Town Hall by Bottaccio, with Chery International and LEPAS executives traveling from China.
Standalone Retailers Rather Than Shared Showrooms
Each site in the network will operate as a standalone, full-service LEPAS retailer covering sales, servicing, and after-sales support. That structure separates LEPAS from a shared-showroom approach and sets a higher capital bar for participating dealers, which makes the involvement of Arnold Clark and Stoneacre Motor Group the more substantive signal in the announcement — both are among the largest groups in the UK retail sector.
Senior representatives from the retail network attended the launch alongside the brand’s operational partners. LEPAS has also appointed Black Horse and Lex Autolease, both part of Lloyds Banking Group, to provide retail finance, wholesale funding, and leasing across the network, and had representatives from DHL and the RAC present.
What Is Coming to the LEPAS UK Lineup?
The L6 EV was the centerpiece of the unveiling, shown in production UK specification. The fully electric SUV will sit alongside the L8 PHEV, the brand’s flagship, which launched in the UK late in the summer. Guests were also given a first look at preview versions of the L6 PHEV and the L4 EV.
| Model | Powertrain | Segment | UK status |
|---|---|---|---|
| L8 | PHEV | Flagship SUV | On sale |
| L6 | EV | Mid-size SUV | Launching this autumn |
| L6 | PHEV | Mid-size SUV | Preview shown |
| L4 | EV | B-segment urban SUV | Preview shown |
Executives at the event included Zhang Guibing, Executive Vice President of Chery Auto and President of Chery International; Charlie Zhang, Executive Vice President of Chery International; and Zhai Xiaobing, CEO of LEPAS, all of whom traveled from China. Presentations also came from Global Chief Designer Ivan Dulanovic, Gary Lan, CEO of Chery International in the UK, and Ray Wang, Managing Director of LEPAS UK.
Why the UK Matters to Chery
The company positions the UK as one of its most important strategic markets globally and a reference point for further international expansion.
“The UK is one of the world’s most mature and sophisticated automotive markets, and its importance to Chery goes far beyond sales. It is a market in which we want to build for the long term,” Wang said. “The launch of LEPAS is another important step in that journey. It brings a new choice to UK customers and demonstrates our commitment to delivering differentiated brand experiences by investing in new brands, new products and new technology for this market.”
Zhai framed the entry in similar terms. “What we appreciate about the UK is the way consumers here understand cars as part of their lifestyle. They value design, quality and individuality. This is exactly the kind of environment in which we believe LEPAS can grow.”
He added: “We are not here simply to introduce another new energy vehicle brand. We come to offer Britain something distinct: a new expression of elegance that is confident yet understated, powerful yet effortless. We want to understand this market, work with local partners, and build LEPAS together with British consumers — not as a foreign brand arriving, but as a new choice born from shared values.”
The event also marked the first handovers under the LEPAS Founders Club, the program covering the brand’s first 500 UK customers. The first six members received their vehicles at a private handover during the launch.
