They are already on their way to Spain. The Chinese brands Omoda and Jaecoo, belonging to the large Chery automobile group, have sent the first 700 units of their cars to our country. They have done it by sea and their arrival in our country - specifically, at the Autoterminal Barcelona facilities - is expected to occur at the end of January so that they can be marketed in dealerships in 2024.
From there, the cars - corresponding to the Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 7 models - will be distributed to official points of sale throughout the country, which already total 39 locations, with the goal of reaching 80 in this first phase.
In parallel with the expansion of the commercial network, a spare parts storage, management and distribution network has been created (with a central warehouse in Azuqueca de Henares, Guadalajara); and distribution logistics offices have been inaugurated at the Noatum Automotive facilities, in Autoterminal Barcelona.
The shipment of this first batch of copies not only represents a milestone in the positioning and development of the two Chinese firms in Spain - one of their most important strategic markets in the world - but also means the large-scale entry of their first cars on the European market.
The Omoda 5 is a 4.4 meter long SUV with front-wheel drive and attractive aesthetics. Highlights include the headlights with T-shaped daytime running lights, the rear lights with 3D Matrix design and the floating roof effect created by the black finish of the B and C pillars and the rear windows with tinted glass.
The interior features the latest in comfort, connectivity and multimedia technology, with 2 dual high-resolution screens of 26 cm (10.25 inches) each, multicolor ambient lighting, wireless charging, heated and ventilated sports seats with electric adjustments and a high quality sound system.
According to the brand's Spanish commercial website, the mechanical range consists of a single four-cylinder 1.6 Turbo gasoline version that develops a power of 185 HP and a maximum torque of 290 Nm. Associated with a 7-speed automatic gearbox, this car accelerates to 100 km/h from a standstill in 7.8 seconds. Its price is 29,900 euros, with a discount of 2,000 euros if financing is used.
For its part, the Jaecoo 7 is an SUV that is around 4.5 meters in length. It has an imposing design and is equipped with retractable door handles flush with the body. To tackle off-road routes, it is equipped with intelligent all-wheel drive, has a ground clearance of 20 cm and has an attack angle of 21º, while the departure angle is 19º. The wading capacity reaches 60 cm.
There is still no Spanish commercial website with the specifications of the vehicle that will reach our market, although it is planned that there will be a plug-in hybrid version, equipped with an 18.3 kWh battery and a large-capacity 60-liter fuel tank. The global online page refers to a 145 kW (195 HP) gasoline variant with a torque of 290 Nm, which is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds.
