Chery Tiggo 8 Patented In India: JSW-Cherry Paternership Talks Finally Bearing Fruit?
Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile is new to the Indian market. In the latest turn of events, it has filed a patent for one of its products here. The design of Tiggo 8, the flagship SUV, has been patented in India. While this doesn’t confirm an immediate launch, the timing of this move, alongside reports of Chery’s ongoing discussions with the JSW Group, makes things very interesting. Could this finally be the first sign of the partnership talks bearing fruit?
Chery Tiggo 8 Patent Filed In India
The Tiggo 8 is one of Cherry’s global flagships and is, in fact, one of its best sellers worldwide. It is essentially a large three-row SUV. The global-spec spans over 4.7 meters in length. This makes it larger than the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV700, Hyundai Alcazar, and even the MG Hector.
Globally, two versions of the Tiggo 8 are available- the Pro and the Plus. It offers five, six and seven-seater layouts (depending on markets) and comes with both petrol and hybrid powertrain options.
The patented design looks like that of the global SUV. It looks modern and premium. A bold grille, split-headlamp setup, upright stance, and a prominent front bumper can be seen. The image also sheds light on some of the features that are to be expected. We can see a large panoramic sunroof and a Lidar for the ADAS system.
Expected Features And Specifications
The Tiggo 8 is expected to come with a premium cabin design. It will use soft-touch panels and materials in plenty, and will come packed with features like a 15.6-inch infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, 540-degree camera, 50W wireless charging, ambient lighting, ventilated seats, built-in dash cam, 12-speaker sound system, and level 2 ADAS.
The SUV will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 241 bhp and 390 Nm. It will be mated to a 7-speed DCT gearbox. The global spec also has a ZF-sourced All-scene intelligent 4-wheel drive system. Going by the overall design and packaging, the Tiggo 8 is likely to have a road bias than being a hardcore off-roader.
If launched, the Tiggo 8 will likely have its ex-showroom price in the range of Rs 25-30 lakh. Here, it will face competition from the likes of Hyundai Tucson, Tata Safari, Jeep Meridian, Mahindra XUV700, and even the MG Hector duo. The company is likely to price it competitively. A tech-packed nature and compelling price tag will likely be its strongest points.
Chery’s India Ambitions
Chery had explored joint ventures and local partnerships here in the past, which never went through successfully. With the India-China trade ties improving, it could finally make its way to our shores now.
The direction that JSW’s ongoing partnership talks with Chery take will likely define the nature of its market entry. The conglomerate forming a similar alliance as it did with MG Motors remains a strong possibility. This could help Chery to sidestep regulatory hurdles. It will further be able to utilize JSW's massive local presence to establish a strong presence here.
That said, filing a patent doesn’t guarantee a launch. Carmakers often do this to protect intellectual property, even without solid plans to enter the market rightaway. But when viewed alongside the JSW-Chery partnership buzz, this move feels more than just routine paperwork. It could be the first indicator of the partnership talks materialising. We hope to learn more about this in the upcoming months.
MG Motor India plans to launch the new Majestor SUV in the time ahead. If priced right, the Tiggo 8 will even compete with the Majestor (and the outgoing Gloster).