Chinese manufacturer Chery directed suppliers and engineers to make quick trips to proving grounds in Zhaoyuan, Shandong Province, in October 2023.
Over the course of a weekend, they decided to upgrade the steering and suspension of Chery’s Omoda 5 SUV in China for the European market, which is crucial to the company’s global expansion. The issue was that the vehicle was built at slower speeds and smoother roadways in China. It now had to endure the convoluted, uneven roadways of Europe.
The European-spec Omoda 5 with new tires, brakes, traction control, steering, and vibration dampers was shipped to dealers by Chery just six weeks later.
