Chery Joins Le Mans With Five Year Race Offensive Plan
On 18 December 2025 Chery Group announced a bold move into world endurance racing, revealing a five year strategic partnership with the organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The agreement was signed on 13 December in Kuala Lumpur between Chery’s premium marque EXEED and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. It is the first time a Chinese automotive group has entered a full scale collaboration with one of the most prestigious events in motorsport.
A Bold Road To Le Mans
The deal launches EXEED’s “Road to Le Mans” programme and signals a genuine intent to compete at the sharp end of global endurance racing. Le Mans is widely regarded as one of the three pinnacles of motorsport, alongside Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship, and represents an unforgiving exam in performance, durability and efficiency. Chery says this will put 28 years of engineering experience under the most rigorous scrutiny.
Three Stages To The Finish Line
The plan is staged and sensible. First, EXEED will establish a domestic endurance racing series to build technical capability and nurture driving and engineering talent. Next, the marque will step up to the Asian Le Mans Series to gain regional competition experience and benchmark its progress. The final and most ambitious phase is to field a factory EXEED team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the aim of becoming the first Chinese manufacturer to contest the race as a works entry.
A Le Mans Certified Circuit In Wuhu
Part of the agreement includes cooperation to develop a Le Mans certified circuit in Wuhu, the city that houses Chery’s headquarters. That track will be used as a development hub and a focal point for motorsport activity and fan engagement within China. The circuit is intended to accelerate technical learning and provide a proper testing ground for race and production related systems.
Racing As A Test Bed For Technology
This is not a sponsorship stunt dressed up as engineering theatre. Chery has been clear the partnership is focused on technology development. Data and lessons from endurance competition will feed directly into future production vehicles, targeting improvements in powertrain efficiency, durability and reliability. Endurance racing is an excellent way to reveal weaknesses quickly and fix them under pressure.
From Exporter To Global Technology Player
More broadly, the programme fits into Chery’s stated ambition to evolve from vehicle exporter to a global automotive technology player. Motorsport offers a high speed proving ground for next generation innovation and, if all goes to plan, a Le Mans programme will accelerate that transition and raise the brand’s international engineering credibility. It is an audacious path, but one that makes sense if you want to be taken seriously at the front of the field.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
