Residents of Switzerland will soon be able to purchase vehicles from Chinese automaker Chery, which continues to expand its dealer network across Europe. Operations in Switzerland will be managed by Samelet, the veteran Israeli vehicle importer. Walla Cars has learned that the agreement was recently signed at the Beijing Auto Show.
In recent years, Israeli vehicle importers have been expanding their operations abroad amid the entry of Chinese manufacturers into the market and restrictions the Israeli Competition Authority has been attempting to impose on their domestic activities and their ability to obtain additional import franchises.
Samelet, which imports Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Ram, Subaru, Leapmotor, Hongqi, and Ferrari to Israel and is managed by Gili Pariente, already markets Fiat and Alfa Romeo in Greece and last year received the Chery franchise in Romania. The company is now opening another European market for Chery, despite the fact that in Israel the Chinese manufacturer is represented by two other importers: Freesbe (Chery) and Colmobil (Jaecoo and Omoda). Chery has already granted Freesbe the brand’s franchise in Austria and awarded Colmobil the Jaecoo and Omoda franchise in the country.
The Swiss automotive market is smaller than Israel’s, with 234,000 new vehicles sold there in 2025, and it is dominated by European manufacturers. Volkswagen, Skoda, BMW, and Mercedes are the country’s best-selling brands. Chinese manufacturers still hold a relatively small market share in most European countries, although in the UK the Jaecoo 7 became the best-selling vehicle, and last December Chinese brands reached a 10% market share in Europe for the first time.
This year, the Chery Group surpassed Hyundai-Kia to become the largest automotive group in Israel, with the Jaecoo 7 continuing to be the country’s best-selling vehicle, followed by the strengthening sales of the Jaecoo 5 and the Chery Tiggo 7 and 8.