Own a Chery or Jaecoo? Understanding their ties to the Iranian regime
An investigation by Yitzhak Lampert, citing international sources including Bloomberg, raises questions about the Chinese automotive group Chery's activities in Iran while its brands hold a significant share of the Israeli market. The group operates in Israel through several brands, including Chery, Jaecoo, and Omoda.
An investigation published by Yitzhak Lampert on the X network, relying on international reports and studies, including those by Bloomberg, raises questions regarding the activities of the Chinese automotive group Chery in Iran at a time when its brands are capturing a significant share of the Israeli automotive market. According to Lampert, the group operates in Israel through several brands marketed separately, including Chery, Jaecoo, and Omoda.
According to his claim, some of these brands rely on shared platforms, allowing the group to expand its operations through different importers. Chery was launched in Israel in 2022 through Frisbee, while Jaecoo has been marketed since 2024 by Colmobil.
The main part of the investigation deals with Chery's activity in Iran. Lampert notes that the Chinese manufacturer has been operating in the country for years in cooperation with Iranian companies, and that models identified in Israel as Chery and Jaecoo are produced and marketed in Iran under other names.
A publication by Tomer Hadar in Calcalist described a mechanism known as "cars for metals": within this framework, Iran exports copper and zinc to China and receives in return kits for assembling cars, mainly from the Chery group. According to the report, the kits are transferred to Iran and assembled by a local company connected to the group. This mechanism allows Iran to maintain international trade despite Western sanctions.
Lampert points to the gap between the activity in Iran and the success of the group's brands in Israel. According to him, Chery and its derivatives have reached the top of the local sales charts, while the Israeli public is not necessarily aware of the full extent of the manufacturer's business connections.
The investigation further claims that Chery Tiggo 8 vehicles were previously used by the IDF as part of leasing deals. Lampert noted that the army has begun to phase out these vehicles, as was reported last year in Israeli media.
Another part of the investigation is dedicated to the potential risk posed by smart vehicles near security facilities. Modern cars are equipped with peripheral cameras, cellular connectivity, and systems that allow for remote software updates. Lampert warns that these capabilities require caution, and in particular, avoiding classified conversations inside connected vehicles.
However, Lampert emphasizes that the mere fact of Chery's activity in Iran does not prove that the company is engaged in espionage. His recommendation is to separate the civilian market from bodies and officials connected to the security establishment, and to re-examine the entry of connected vehicles into sensitive facilities.
No response was received from Colmobil.
