Chery launching its third auto brand in Australia in four years

Not content with two auto brands, Chery is lobbing another one into the crowded Australian market – and it's got an odd name, to boot.

Lepas will launch here in 2026, and Chery says it's pronounced ' le pass ' – and not like how you would say 'lepers' in an Australian accent. The name is a portmanteau of "leap" and "passion".

Sharing its name with a genus of goose barnacles, Lepas is launching as an SUV brand for now, with plans to offer six different products.

The Chinese brand hasn't confirmed what the local Lepas lineup will look like, though it has released images of the L8 which has an unusual name of its own.

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So, how does Lepas distinguish itself from the existing Chery and Omoda Jaecoo