Future in sight: Chery's tech captivates global influencers

The image of a sleek, autonomous car gliding through city streets to find its owner is no longer confined to sci-fi blockbusters. On April 26, at the headquarters of Chinese automaker Chery in Wuhu, Anhui province, that vision crossed into reality.

Standing before a towering digital backdrop of a rain-slicked cityscape, Shawn Xu, CEO of Omoda & Jaecoo International — affiliated brands of Chery — demonstrated the brand's Valet Parking Driver (VPD) technology. With a single tap on his car key, the demonstration began.

As the audience watched in hushed anticipation, a vehicle autonomously navigated the stage, located Xu, and tucked itself into a parking spot with surgical precision. It wasn't merely a software showcase; it was a window into a future where parking is entirely hands-free.

To prove the technology's real-world viability, international influencers were invited to test it in a public setting earlier that day. Douglas Dueno from the United States came away impressed, saying: "Its parking skills are much better than mine."

Fellow creator Joe Burns from the United Kingdom highlighted the practical benefits of the innovation: "When smart driving becomes accessible to everyone, it's a total game-changer. It's about ending parking anxiety and making the urban experience feel seamless."

The VPD demonstration was a component of the 2026 Chery International Business Summit, a five-day event that drew over 4,000 dealers, investors, and media partners.

The summit celebrated a historic milestone for Omoda & Jaecoo, which surpassed one million cumulative sales in just three years. Building on the momentum, the sub-brands announced an ambitious goal to scale annual sales to one million units and held a ceremony to commemorate the official roll-off of the Omoda 4.

The event also featured an expansive 2,000-square-meter exhibition that highlighted Chery's self-built ecosystem for its global partners.

In 2025, Chery ranked 233rd in the Fortune Global 500 and maintained its position as China's leading global passenger vehicle brand for 23 consecutive years. Currently, the company has established footholds in more than 130 countries and regions worldwide.

Chery's ambitions, however, extend far beyond four wheels. The company's robotics arm AiMOGA Robotics, launched a suite of robotic products tailored for diverse applications during the summit. 

Attendees were captivated by robotic "dogs" that danced, performed, and responded to voice commands. "It's really cool to walk one on a leash," Burns said. "They're genuinely responsive."

A ceremony on April 27 marked the delivery of 110 AiMOGA traffic robots — the first automotive-grade units of their kind — to be deployed across Wuhu and other major Chinese hubs.

Following the ceremony, Zhang Guibing, executive vice-president of Chery and general manager of AiMOGA Robotics, said that these traffic robots can operate in harsh conditions, significantly reducing the risks such as extreme weather and traffic accidents faced by human officers.

He added that factors such as competitive pricing and ecosystem development are crucial to maintaining AiMOGA's edge both in China and abroad.

After wrapping up their visit, the influencer delegation reached a unanimous conclusion: high-tech innovation is no longer a distant promise.

"Seeing how these innovations integrate into daily life — like a robot that manages traffic or tells you the weather — is truly impressive," said US content creator Shaquala King.

Ukrainian influencer Karyna Kovalevska echoed this sentiment while observing the bustling pavilion: "Soon, ordinary people will be able to harness these cutting-edge technologies. The future is now."