CJSC Chery Automobiles Rus informs about the launch of Russian production of Chery cars at the facilities of the Derways plant in Cherkessk. In September, 300 commercial vehicles rolled off the plant’s assembly line—Bonus 3 sedans and Tiggo 5 crossovers. Russian-assembled Chery cars have already entered the brand’s dealer network.

In July 2014, Chery announced the start of a car production project in Russia. At a press conference, Chery Automobile President Yin Tunyao said that the release of the first commercial vehicles is planned for September.

In October, it is planned to increase the production of Chery cars to 2,400 units (the total design capacity of the assembly line is 3,000 cars per month). Most of the production will be for the Chery Tiggo 5 crossover, which quickly gained popularity. Demand for this car exceeded expectations, the number of orders in the two months since the announcement of the start of sales exceeded 5,000.

Chery Bonus 3 (factory index A19) and Chery Tiggo 5 (T21) are part of the Ambition Line. Cars in this series are the embodiment of the company’s new strategy, aimed at introducing innovative solutions, modern technologies that improve product quality, and provide a high level of safety and comfort. New models are guaranteed for 5 years or 150 thousand km.

The choice of Derways as an assembly partner for Chery Automobile is explained by high standards of quality and production culture. Derways is at the best stage of development. I am confident in the chosen partners,” said Yin Tunyao, President of Chery Automobile, during a visit to Moscow in July.

As part of the cooperation, Chery provided the partner with unique equipment necessary for the most expensive part of the car assembly process - body welding. In the future, Chery plans to increase the level of localization of production of a number of parts, components and assemblies to 50%, as well as open a joint engineering center. It is planned that in the coming year, cars assembled in Cherkessk will meet the needs of the Russian market. In the future, it is possible to expand the geography of sales of Russian-assembled Chery cars into the territory of the Customs Union.

“With the launch of its own production, the Chery brand is entering a qualitatively new level of development in Russia. This step confirms that Chery has entered the market seriously and for a long time. The company considers the Russian market among its priorities. We are building a high-quality dealer network and trying to respond more flexibly to the wishes of our customers. In recent years, Chery has done a lot to improve product quality and service standards, develop a dealer network, and actively promote the brand in the market. The launch of production is a logical continuation of the serious work of our team. We believe in the brilliant future of the Chery brand in Russia, no matter how difficult the current market realities may be,” said Gennady Pavlov, General Director of Chery Automobiles Rus CJSC.

Compact budget cars have always attracted the attention of buyers. There are quite a lot of inexpensive cars on the domestic market with good technical characteristics and good equipment. Domestic buyers have recently given their preference to cars from the Chinese brand Chery. The five-door hatchback Cheri Very, built on the platform of the Cheri Very Bonus model, deserves special attention. Many Russian fans and owners of this “Chinese” do not know where Cherie Very is assembled for Russia.

In this article we will answer this question. The Chinese hatchback first appeared on the domestic market in 2011. The assembly plant for this car model is located in Ukraine at the plant in Zaporozhye (“ZAZ Ukraine”). This is where the compact city car is supplied to the Russian Federation. An interesting fact is that the car is sold in Ukraine under the name ZAZ Forza Hatchback. The Chinese hatchback is available to Russian buyers in the following trim levels:

• Base Plus
• Comfort
• Luxury.

The famous Italian design studio Torino Design worked on the appearance of the “Chinese”. Therefore, the appearance of the car turned out to be stylish and original.

Exterior and interior

At the front of the car, the manufacturer installed a V-shaped massive radiator grille and headlights in the shape of an eagle’s eyes. If we compare Chery Very with its “brother”, the car has become only thirteen centimeters shorter, making its length 4139 millimeters. Otherwise, both cars are identical: height - 1492 mm, width - 1686 mm. The dimensions of the wheelbase of the “Chinese” are 2527 millimeters. Inside, the car does not shine with luxury. Everything here is quite simple and discreet. But the volume of the luggage compartment is pleasing - 380 liters, and with the seats folded - 1300 liters.

Where Chery Very is produced, they took into account the peculiarities of the Russian and Ukrainian climate, as well as the condition of the roads. Therefore, the manufacturer is trying to assemble cars that are suitable for our markets as much as possible. The cabin has fairly good sound insulation, consisting of twenty components. This made it possible to reduce the noise level inside the hatchback to 42 DHz. The manufacturer took care of the safety of the vehicle. The basic configuration of the “Chinese” has:

• three-point safety belts
• special Isofix child seat mountings
• two airbags, etc.

After testing and passing the C-NCAP test, the car received four stars. In Russia, the car underwent a crash test, which it passed with dignity. The car crashed into a concrete wall at a speed of 57 kilometers per hour. Due to this, the door in the hatchback was not blocked, the gas tank did not leak, and the passengers were evacuated without the help of special tools. The vehicle fully complies with technical safety regulations. According to owner reviews, this car has virtually no flaws.

It behaves well on the road, has a memorable design and excellent technical characteristics. Where is Cheri Veri produced? They took care of the comfort of the driver and passengers. Noise insulation here is at a higher level than that of cars that cost several times more. This model is low-budget and is intended for use in urban conditions. The disadvantages include the use of low-quality hard plastic for interior decoration; otherwise, the car is completely worthy of the money they are asking for it.

Specifications

The Chinese hatchback for the Ukrainian and Russian markets is equipped with a single 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 108 horsepower (140 Nm). The power unit is paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The maximum you can squeeze out of this car is 160 kilometers. The average fuel consumption of the “Chinese” is 7.3 liters per hundred kilometers. The car runs perfectly on 92 gasoline. This front-wheel drive car is equipped with an independent McPherson-type suspension. The Chery Very has disc brakes installed at the front and drum brakes at the rear.

The cost of the basic configuration of a Chinese hatchback starts from 400,000 rubles. For this amount of money the buyer will receive:

• alarm
• electric front windows
• airbag.

It doesn’t matter where Chery Very is assembled, the Base Plus package will cost ten thousand more. The Chery Very Comfort car will cost 420,000 rubles, and the most “trump” version of the “Chinese” will cost 430,000 rubles.

Chery cars are common in many countries, including post-Soviet countries. A Russian user loves Chery cars, but many facts about them remain unknown, for example, features of the production cycle and other points. We set out to figure this out, for which we studied in detail all the facts that relate to Chery cars. Chery automobile production belongs to Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. Its founding date is 1997. This company is Chinese, it was founded in Anhui province, namely in the city of Wuhu. The specialization of this manufacturer covers production processes and assembly of not only cars, but also many components for automotive equipment.

The company's development is rapid, it quickly conquers more and more countries and constantly introduces its products in new branches of the automotive industry. If in 2005 the size of assets was $1.5 billion, and the company employed 13 thousand people, then after just two years the staff increased to 25 thousand people, and the size of assets was already $3.5 billion. The achievements of this Chinese Chery are impressive. He managed to reach a high level, as evidenced by the following facts:

• A 15-year history that is full of achievements, records and victories;
• production capacities are within 900 thousand units of equipment;
• Chery cars are assembled at 18 factories, 4 of them are in China, and 14 facilities are located in other countries;
• cooperation with other enterprises, in particular with Jaguar Land Rover and Qoros;
• the staff consists of 30 thousand people, of which 6 thousand are engineers, and 150 people are foreign experts;
• for 13 years, the company that produces Chery cars has been ranked first among Chinese car exporters;
• Chery car manufacturing plants are equipped with modern full-cycle production lines;
• the company owns design and research centers that are working on the development of many components for existing and future models;
• the largest Asian testing center belongs to Chery (manufacturing country - China), its area is equal to 300 thousand square meters. meters.

Impressive, isn't it? But that's not all. We decided you might be interested in learning about some of the models that are leaders on the Russian market.

You should not be biased towards Chinese goods, in particular cars. They try to reduce the cost of the production process of their products in every possible way and save on all possible stages and components. Take for example Chery cars, the manufacturing country of which is China. These machines have proven themselves to be the best and have won the hearts of millions of users from many countries and continents.

Despite the fact that the Chery Very car is positioned by the manufacturer as an independent model, it is a modification of the Chery Bonus, the official deliveries of which to Russia began in the spring of 2011. Its assembly is carried out at the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant, and many components are produced at Ukrainian enterprises.

The main difference between the Chery Very and the Bonus is the body type: it is a hatchback built on the same platform and has similar outlines. It is 13 cm shorter than the liftback, but otherwise the proportions remain the same. This also applies to the luggage compartment, which has increased by only 10 liters. As a result, the trunk volume of Chery Very is 380 liters, and with the rear seat folded it increases to 1300 liters.

Buyers of the Chery Very have access to only one 1.5-liter gasoline engine, developing up to 107 hp. with a maximum torque of 140 Nm. The development of the engine was carried out by engineers of the Austrian company AVL, and, according to the manufacturer, fuel consumption in the urban cycle should not exceed 7.2 liters per 100 km. At the same time, the Chery Very engine consumes AI-92, and the maximum speed of the car reaches 160 km/h.

As in the case of Bonus, the exterior of Cheri Veri is the result of the work of designers from the Italian studio Torino Design. In Russian dealerships, the car is offered in 4 basic configurations and already in the basic version is equipped with power steering, air conditioning, alarm, central locking and driver airbag. At the same time, choosing Chery Very in the maximum configuration, buyers will receive an audio system with 6 speakers and the ability to play MP3, 4 airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as EBD, ABS, electrically adjustable mirrors and a parking radar.

Before the start of deliveries to Russia, Chery Very passed a series of crash tests using the Chinese C-NCAP system, and its overall level of safety was rated 4 out of 5 maximum possible stars.

Expert opinion

Expert opinion:

What can you say about the next new product from Chery? Perhaps the only thing is that you shouldn’t trust marketers. Very is not an independent model! It’s just that Chery Bonus stopped pretending to be a sedan, became 13 cm shorter and acquired a rear door of a traditional hatchback shape. Everything else has not changed - the design was developed by the Italians, the engine and chassis were developed in collaboration with the Austrians. The car looks fashionable on the outside, but inside it is clearly outdated even before it entered the market. However, the capabilities of the 109 horsepower engine should be enough for modern city traffic, and the simplicity of the suspension gives hope for at least some reliability. The car, like the Bonus, is being assembled at the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant, which also inspires some optimism. In any case, the quality of production at ZAZ is assessed by many experts to be higher than at old Russian car factories. In the most expensive version, Chery Very will cost the buyer 410 thousand rubles. For this money you will get everything that a modern car should have at a minimum - air conditioning, two ABS airbags, an audio system, power steering, electrical accessories, etc. In a word – Chery Very is very good. Perhaps this is precisely the meaning that marketers wanted to convey to us by positioning this car as an independent model.

Chery Bonus debuted in 2008, and entered the domestic market in 2011. It is based on a thoroughly modernized platform of its predecessor, Amulet. The model was assembled in a full cycle in Ukraine, at the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant. There the Chinese is known as ZAZ Forza.

The body shape of the Bonus is similar to a sedan, but, like the Amulet, it is actually a liftback. Craftsmen from the Italian studio Torino Design were responsible for the design. The new product turned out to be shorter than its predecessor, but became taller and wider. The wheelbase has also increased. As a result, the interior has increased space for front and rear passengers.

In 2011, they offered a hatchback version, which was called Very. Due to the shorter rear, the car lost 13 cm in length. The remaining dimensions are identical.

Basic models were equipped with air conditioning, central locking and a driver's airbag. An audio system with support for MP3 format, a front passenger airbag, heated seats and ABS were available in a more expensive package. The top version stood out with 15-inch alloy wheels and parking sensors.

Engine

Chery Bonus relied on only one power unit - a four-cylinder naturally aspirated gasoline engine with a volume of 1.5 liters and a return of 109 hp. The 16-valve engine of the Acteco SQR477F family is a product of joint development between the Chinese and the Austrian company AVL. The engines were assembled on the territory of Ukraine - in Melitopol.

The engine has a single camshaft and hydraulic valve clearance compensators. The gas distribution mechanism is driven by a toothed belt. The manufacturer prescribes updating it every 40,000 km. However, often the belt breaks before the next scheduled maintenance. In this case, bending of the valves is inevitable. The main reason is the large number of fakes and low-quality analogues. They sometimes give up after 10-20 thousand km.

The pump is also driven by a timing belt. It may make noise or leak after 40-60 thousand km. There is no point in delaying replacement. Over time, the pump begins to jam, which leads to the timing belt slipping or even breaking. There are precedents. The cost of the original pump is about 1,000 rubles, but high-quality analogs last longer (from 1,500 rubles).

During the cold season, owners often complain that the engine is difficult to start or stalls while warming up. Sometimes it is possible to get rid of the problem after replacing the adsorber valve (600 rubles). But most likely, the reason lies in an unsuccessful engine control program.

After 40-90 thousand km, you have to change the power unit supports (1-2 thousand rubles). The most vulnerable is the front. In addition, it is necessary to update the thermostat (300 rubles), ignition coils (2-3 thousand rubles) and oxygen sensors (1.5-2 thousand rubles). Subsequently, the starter and generator have to be repaired. A new unit is available for 5-6 thousand rubles.

Transmission

The engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, the gearbox often requires repairs for another 50-100 thousand km. Most often it is necessary to change the bearings of the primary and secondary shaft. But the list may include 1st and 2nd gear synchronizers, 2nd gear gear or differential bearings. Repair costs will be at least 10,000 rubles.

The factory clutch may require replacement after 50-70 thousand km. The new original will last just as long. Substitutes from famous manufacturers (in particular Valeo) have a higher resource. A set of a good analogue will cost 10,000 rubles. The original clutch basket and release bearing may fail ahead of time.

From time to time, CV joints also come into focus: external and internal (1-2 thousand rubles per joint).

Chassis

The suspension layout, in comparison with the Amulet, has not changed: MacPherson struts at the front and a semi-independent beam at the rear. However, the geometry is different: the wheelbase and front track have increased.

The most vulnerable elements are the rear shock absorbers (1-2 thousand rubles). They could leak after 20-50 thousand km. The front ones (2-2.5 thousand rubles) served more than 40-70 thousand km.

After 50-100 thousand km, it’s time for the silent blocks of the front levers and rear beam (150-300 rubles apiece).

Wheel bearings often give up after 20-70 thousand km. The front ones are replaced separately (2,000 rubles for the bearings), and the rear ones - assembled with the hub (1.5-2 thousand rubles per hub).

The steering rack could start knocking after just a few thousand kilometers. And it is often necessary to sort it out after 60-80 thousand km (it begins to rattle or leak heavily). A repair kit is available for 3,000 rubles, and a new rack for 16,000 rubles.

The power steering pump may also require attention - the bearings wear out prematurely. The cost of the original pump is about 3,000 rubles.

Body and interior

Unfortunately, after 4-6 years, no, no, and pockets of corrosion are discovered. Most often, rust affects the rear wheel arches, less often – the sills.

The interior looks rustic and the finishing materials seem cheap. Crickets often live in the cabin, and lock rods often knock on the doors.

After 4-5 years of operation, some owners are faced with a breakdown of the driver’s visor - the bracket and plastic fastening elements are destroyed. Heated seats are also not durable.

Many Bonus owners have discovered water in the front passenger's feet. It penetrated into the cabin through a poorly taped windshield or a clip located under the windshield above the cabin filter (under the frill).

Subsequently, the windshield wiper begins to act up. Most often, the reason lies in a failed electric drive motor. Sooner or later, the limit switches in the door and trunk locks also fail. The end caps can be replaced with new ones.

Conclusion

Chery Bonus (Very) cannot boast of exemplary reliability. The situation was aggravated in some places by the poor build quality, and the resource of original spare parts turned out to be too short. A large number of counterfeits on the spare parts market also contribute. Fortunately, so far it has not come to a major overhaul of the engine, and troubleshooting does not require large financial costs.