Chery QQ
Overview
ManufacturerChery
Production2003–2022
Body and chassis
ClassSupermini
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive

The Chery QQ is a city car produced by the Chinese manufacturer Chery after May 2003. In 2006, Chery created a QQ-branded product line that included the original QQ (rebadged as a QQ3), a sedan version called Chery QQ6 released in September 2006 and a three-door hatchback called Chery QQme released in June 2009. A slightly redesigned model of the original QQ was revealed at the 2011 Guangzhou Auto Show,[1] and was renamed Chery QQ3 Sport and a new generation was introduced at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show.[2] The second generation was sold by the DR Automobiles as the DR Zero in Italy.

First generation (2003–2015)

First generation (S11)
Overview
Also calledChery QQ3
Chery IQ (Chile)
Chery Sweet (Russia)
MVM 110 (Iran)
Miles ZX50S (United States)
United Alpha (Pakistan)
Ruitesi Q1
Ruitesi Q2
ProductionJuly 17, 2003–2015
2021–Present (Pakistan)
AssemblyWuhu, Anhui, China
Jakarta, Indonesia (National Assembler, 2006–2011)
Bam, Kerman Province, Iran (MVM, 2005–2015)
Lahore, Pakistan (United Motors, 2021–present)
Body and chassis
Body style5-door hatchback
RelatedChery QQ6
Chery QQme
Chevrolet Spark
Powertrain
Engine0.8 L SQR372 I3 (petrol)
1.1 L SQR472F I4 (petrol)
Transmission5-speed manual
5-speed automated manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,340 mm (92.1 in)
Length3,550 mm (139.8 in)
Width1,495 mm (58.9 in)
Height1,485 mm (58.5 in)
Chery QQ3 rear

Its cheap price (in 2008 it may have been the cheapest production car in the world[3]) made the car popular in China. In the 2000s, the QQ was often Chery's most sold model,[4] and the company itself calls the car "a legend in the Chinese history of the automobile... a mini model with the highest cumulative sales in China".[5] It may no longer be popular; the QQ was dropped from a list of top ten bestsellers compiled by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers c. 2010.[6] Even if its popularity is flagging, it remains cheap. The lowest cost QQ is about US$4,000 as of 2012.[7]

It was at the center of an intellectual property dispute between Chery and GM in the late 2000s.[8]

Copying controversy

The Chevrolet Matiz/Spark (left) and the Chery QQ (right); the design of QQ is a copy of the original Matiz/Spark

General Motors claimed the car was a copy of the Daewoo Matiz (which is marketed in some countries as the Chevrolet Spark) and sued Chery in a Chinese court. The Detroit News reported that "the dispute reflects the confusion, risks and ambitions in China's new auto industry, where global carmakers are battling pugnacious upstarts for a piece of what may become the world's largest auto market."[9]

GM China Group indicated the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components"[8] MotorAuthority.com[10] and GM executives demonstrated the extent of the design duplication, noting for example that the doors of the QQ and those of the Spark are interchangeable.[8]

Chery always denied having copied the design, they maintained they had paid to acquire the design. It seems likely that Chery somehow acquired the design, but it is entirely possible that they didn’t pay Daewoo.[11]

Safety

Though the Chery QQ and the Daewoo Matiz are superficially similar cars, their safety ratings differ dramatically. A Euro NCAP front offset crash test showed that the driver's injuries in the QQ are worse than those sustained in the Matiz. Upon impact, the QQ driver will most likely suffer severe (possibly fatal) head trauma, and trauma to the neck and chest areas. The first generation Daewoo Matiz achieved a three/two star driver/passenger Euro NCAP rating.[12]

The African version of the QQ3 with no airbags and no ABS received 0 stars for adult occupants and 0 stars for infants from Global NCAP in 2017 (similar to Latin NCAP 2013).[13]

Engine

The QQ is available with three gasoline-powered engines (both EURO III compliant):

  • 0.8 L SQR372 DOHC 12V I3 — 38 kW (51 hp) at 6,000 rpm, 70 N⋅m (52 lb⋅ft) at 3,500 rpm
  • 1.1 L DA465Q-1A2/D SOHC 16V I4 — 38.5 kW (52 hp) at 5,300 rpm, 83 N⋅m (61 lb⋅ft) at 3,000 rpm
  • 1.1 L SQR472F DOHC 16V I4 — 50 kW (67 hp) at 6,000 rpm, 90 N⋅m (66 lb⋅ft) at 3,500 rpm

QQ3 EV (electric version)

An all-electric version, the Chery QQ3 EV, began deliveries to retail customers in Wuhu, Anhui province in March 2010. The electric city car has a range of 100 km (62 mi).[14] The QQ3 EV was the lowest priced pure electric car in China, at CN¥40,000 (~US$6,480) after government incentives.

The QQ3 EV was the top selling new energy car in China between 2011 and 2013, with 2,167 units sold in 2011, 3,129 in 2012, and 5,727 in 2013.[15] The QQ3 EV was surpassed in 2014 by the BYD Qin plug-in hybrid as the top selling new energy car in the country.[16] Cumulative sales between January 2011 and June 2015 reached 22,097 units.[15][17][18]

A new model based on the Chery QQ3 Sport with a 16 hp (12 kW) electric motor was expected to be launched by the end of 2012.[19] In the United States, Miles Electric Vehicles was planning to release the rebadged version of the QQ3 EV called the Miles ZX50S AD in 2012.[20]

Global markets

The QQ is available in a number of export markets including Pakistan, Philippines (called QQ3), Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa (QQ3),[21] Thailand and Vietnam.

In Iran Kerman Khodro reached an agreement to produce the Chery QQ domestically in 2006,[22] and it is marketed there as the MVM 110.[23] It is offered with two engine options, a 3-cylinder 0.8 liter and a 4-cylinder 1.1 liter.[24]

In Iran, production of the QQ followed a 2002 decision from GM to stop supplying Kerman Khodro with Daewoo Matiz knock-down kits. Daewoo cars had been assembled by the company since 1997, but this Korean automaker stopped exporting to Iran after being acquired by GM in 2002.It is offered with two engine options, a 3-cylinder 0.8 liter and a 4-cylinder 1.1 liter.[24] Quest Motor Corporation is also assembling the Chery QQ since some time in the year 2011.

As of 2006, the QQ is being sold in Malaysia,[25] with the 0.8 L (812 cc) engine producing 52 hp at 6,000 rpm and a max torque of 75.5 Nm between 3,500 and 4,000rpm.

In 2012, the model received a facelift and was sold in its home market as the QQ3 Sport. With some inspiration from the 2008 Kia Morning/Picanto, the front and rear ends were completely redesigned. It mounted a new, more efficient 1.0L engine (SQR371F), a black interior with silver-painted inserts and a darker bi-color upholstery.

United Alpha

In Pakistan a local company, United Cars builds under license the Facelift of the first generation of the QQ.

Second generation (2013–2022)

Second generation (S15)
Overview
Also calledDR Zero (Italy)
Chery eQ (electric version)
Chery iQ (Chile)
Chery Arauca (Venezuela)
MVM 110S(iran)
Production2013–2022
AssemblyWuhu, Anhui, China
Jacareí, São Paulo, Brazil[26]
Iran: Bam, Kerman Province (MVM, 2015–2018)
DesignerGiuliano Biasio (Torino Design)[27]
Body and chassis
Body style5-door hatchback
RelatedRiich M1
Chery eQ1
Powertrain
Engine1.0 L SQR371F I3 (petrol)
Transmission5-speed manual
5-speed automated manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,340 mm (92.1 in)
Length3,564 mm (140.3 in)
Width1,620 mm (63.8 in)
Height1,527 mm (60.1 in)
Curb weight936-945 kg
Chery QQ II Rear

The second generation was launched at the Shanghai auto show in 2013 and was based on a modified platform of the previous generation.[28] The engine is a 1.0L I3 petrol derived from the 0.8L of the first QQ, for the export market (like South America) the QQ used a 1.0L flex fuel version. From 2015 the Chery QQ was imported in Italy by DR Automobiles and rebadged as a DR Zero.[29]

Codenamed "S15", this long-awaited redesign hit its home market in March 2013. It is based in a slightly larger QQ3-based platform, with bigger 14' inch wheels as standard and several mechanical improvements, sharing many of its components with previous models of the brand, like the A1 and the Riich M1, as a way to reduce development costs and simplify its assembly process, following a similar strategy to what was done in the Toyota Aygo/Citroën C1/Peugeot 107 line-up (which the new QQ looks similar to by the way). A good example of this can be seen on the back of the car, where an enlarged glass replaces the rear door seen on the previous model. The interior habitability, design and materials were also improved, introducing for the very first time customisable upholstery and dashboard accents.

The 1,000,000th Chery QQ was built on 1 September 2013, cumulative production include first and second generation, sedan QQ6 and the QQme.[30]

Safety

The Chinese—made iQ in its most basic Latin American market configuration with no airbags and no ABS received 0 stars for adult occupants and 0 stars for toddlers from Latin NCAP in 2015.[31]

Chery eQ (electric version)

Chery eQ

The Chery eQ, a full-electric minicar based on the new generation QQ, was launched in the Chinese car market in November 2014. Pricing starts at CN¥59.800 (~US$9,600) after all government incentives for new energy vehicles, making the eQ one of the cheapest electric cars available in country.[32][33] The electric motor delivers 57 hp and 150 nm powered by a lithium-ion battery. The eQ has a range of 200 km (120 mi), and charging takes 8–10 hours for a full charge on 220 V.[33] A total of 542 units were sold in the country in 2014,[16] and cumulative sales totaled 2,671 units through June 2015.[16][18]

References

  1. ↑ "New Chery QQ3 Sport listed & priced in China". Carnewschina.com. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  2. ↑ "Chery QQ is Cute and Cool at the Shanghai Auto Show". China Car Times. 25 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Navarro, Xavier (3 March 2008). "The ten cheapest cars in the world – #2 – Chery QQ". Green.autoblog.com. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  4. ↑ For 2005 best-seller, see Eisenstein, P. (2005). "Chery-picking from china." Professional Engineering, 18(4)
    • For 2007 best-seller, see Gordon Fairclough and, J. L. (2007, 5 Jul). "Chery assembly deal makes chrysler a model in exporting from china". The Wall Street Journal.
  5. ↑ "Chery QQ launched in Brazil as new model". Chery. 19 May 2011. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  6. ↑ This claim is supported by multiple sources:
  7. ↑ "Chery QQ3 goes super cheap in China". The Tycho's CarNewsChina. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 "China to Foreign Automakers: Drop Dead". Thetruthaboutcars.com. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2007.
  9. ↑ "Chinese carmaker ambitious, controversial". Detroit News, Christine Tierney.
  10. ↑ "China Chinese Chery QQ – a carbon copy of the Daewoo Matiz". MotorAuthority.com 6 July 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  11. ↑ Breevoort, Leo (31 July 2023). "The Big Read – Chery (2/4) – The Daewoo affair". CarNewsChina.com. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "DAEWOO Matiz 1998 – 2007". Autoevolution.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  13. ↑ "Safer Cars for Africa : Chery QQ3 - NO AIRBAGS" (PDF). Static1.squarespace.com. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  14. ↑ "The first QQ EV was delivered to customer". Chery. 1 July 2010. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  15. 1 2 Henry Lee; Sabrina Howell; Adam Heal (June 2014). "Leapfrogging or Stalling Out? Electric Vehicles in China". Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School. Retrieved 18 January 2015. Download EVS in China (full report). See Table 2: Chinas's EV Sales by Brand, 2011–2013, pp. 19.
  16. 1 2 3 "2014 EV Sales Ranking". China Auto Web. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  17. ↑ Jose Pontes (25 January 2015). "China December 2014". EV Sales. Retrieved 2 August 2015. A total of 7,866 QQ3 EVs were sold in 2014.
  18. 1 2 "Chinese EV Sales Ranking in the First Half of 2015". China Auto Web. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015. A total of 3,208 QQ3 EVs were sold during the first half of 2015.
  19. ↑ Tycho de Feyter (31 May 2012). "Spy Shots: Chery QQ3 EV testing in China". Car News China. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  20. ↑ "Miles ZX50S AD". Archived from the original on 21 July 2008.
  21. ↑ "Home". Motoring.co.za. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  22. ↑ "Chery Boosts Its Presence in Iran (Internet Archive)". Inside Line. 13 August 2007. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "صنایع خودروسازی مدیران – MVM 110". Archived from the original on 11 November 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  24. 1 2 "مشخصات فنی خودروی MVM 110". Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  25. ↑ Tan, Paul (14 July 2006). "Chery QQ for RM39,888". Paultan.org. Driven Communications Sdn Bhd. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  26. ↑ "Chery inaugura fábrica em Jacareí (SP)" (in Portuguese). Novidades Automotivas. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  27. ↑ autodesignmagazine.com, ed. (16 July 2013). "Torino Design, agilità progettuale". Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  28. ↑ Tycho de Feijter (24 September 2012). "This is it: new Chery QQ is Ready for the Chinese auto market". Car News China. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  29. ↑ "DR dr Zero". Wheels.iconmagazine.it. 1 June 2017.
  30. ↑ "新闻详情". Chery.cn. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  31. ↑ "Official results of the Chery iQ - NO Airbags 2015". Latinncap.com.
  32. ↑ W.E. Ning (5 November 2014). "Chery eQ EV launched on the Chinese car market". Car News China. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  33. 1 2 W.E. Ning (14 October 2014). "Chery eQ EV will hit the Chinese auto market on November 5". Car News China. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
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