Chery Auto has launched the LEPAS L6 EV, the first model from its new electric-vehicle brand LEPAS, with Thailand as its debut market on July 24, 2026.
Why it matters: LEPAS is a new brand entry from Chery, one of China’s largest automakers, aimed specifically at the electric SUV segment in international markets. Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s most competitive EV markets, with several Chinese automakers already established there — making the L6 EV’s reception in that market an early signal of how LEPAS’s broader international rollout might go.
Fast facts
- Brand: LEPAS — a new NEV (new-energy vehicle) brand from Chery Auto
- Model: L6 EV, an electric SUV
- First market: Thailand, launched July 24, 2026
- Range: 450 km combined, per WLTC testing standard (manufacturer-reported figure)
- Battery operating range: -25°C to 55°C, per Chery
- Safety: built to meet 2026 Euro NCAP standards, according to Chery — not an independently confirmed Euro NCAP rating
- Charging/power: standard 3.3 kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) external power output
- Next steps: Chery says the L6 EV will enter additional international markets following the Thailand launch, though no specific markets or dates have been announced
Design and cabin
Chery describes the L6 EV’s exterior design language as “Leopard Aesthetics,” featuring LED headlamps the company calls “Leopard Eye,” a wide-body stance, and red taillights, finished in pearlescent paint options.
Inside, the cabin includes a wraparound dashboard design, a central display Chery calls a “Waterfall-style” screen, and a panoramic sunroof measuring 1.12 square meters. Seats and door panels use a quilted texture pattern.
Driving technology and parking assistance
The L6 EV uses what Chery calls its LEX platform, built around a 12-in-1 integrated electric drive unit. Chassis tuning was handled by a team Chery describes as European, and the vehicle uses a Bosch IPB 2.0 braking system — a supplier-sourced component that’s independently verifiable, unlike some of the brand’s other marketing claims.
For parking, the L6 EV includes Automated Parking Assist (APA) and Remote Parking Assist (RPA) as standard features. A more advanced system, which Chery calls second-generation Super Intelligent Valet Parking (SIVP), is available on select models in some markets and is designed for tight underground parking spaces. The vehicle also includes advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) features that monitor surrounding conditions.
Safety engineering
Chery says the L6 EV was engineered to meet 2026 Euro NCAP crash-safety standards. It’s worth being precise about what that means: Chery has not stated that the vehicle holds a certified Euro NCAP rating, only that it was built to meet that standard — an important distinction for a claim this consequential, and one that should be confirmed against an actual published Euro NCAP test result before being treated as equivalent to a certified score.
According to Chery, high-strength steel makes up 73.77% of the body structure, and the vehicle includes seven airbags. The company also describes a post-collision system with what it calls quad-redundant door unlocking, intended to preserve rescue access after a crash, along with IP68/IPX9K-rated battery protection against water and dust intrusion.
Comfort and utility features
The L6 EV includes a voice assistant Chery calls the “Super Voice Assistant,” paired with a panoramic view monitor for visibility while parking. The vehicle supports five preset modes — labeled Pet, Baby, Nap, Refresh, and Camping — along with remote vehicle control through voice interaction.
Chery states the cabin achieves 65.2% interior space efficiency, with 39 storage compartments and 99 liters of under-floor storage. The standard 3.3 kW V2L power output allows the vehicle to power external devices, which Chery markets toward outdoor use cases like camping.
Rollout plans
Chery says early media reaction in Thailand focused on the vehicle’s styling, cabin finish, and ride comfort in hot-climate conditions, though the company has not published independent review data or third-party test results supporting these characterizations.
LEPAS says it plans to expand into additional international markets following the Thailand launch, positioning itself as a brand focused on what Chery describes as “elegant electric mobility.” No specific future markets or timelines have been announced.
Zoom out
LEPAS’s Thailand-first strategy fits a broader pattern among Chinese automakers, several of which have used Southeast Asia — and Thailand specifically — as a proving ground before expanding into more competitive markets. Whether LEPAS’s claimed range, safety, and comfort figures hold up under independent testing will matter more to buyers than the launch messaging itself, and is worth tracking as the vehicle reaches additional markets.
