Chery Group has entered a five-year strategic partnership with the organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking the first time a Chinese automotive group has secured a full-scale collaboration with one of the world’s most prestigious motorsport events .
The agreement was signed on 13 December in Kuala Lumpur between Chery’s premium brand EXEED and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), launching what Chery has described as its “Road to Le Mans” motorsport program.
Widely regarded as one of the three pinnacles of global motorsport — alongside Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship — the 24 Hours of Le Mans is considered the ultimate test of vehicle performance, durability and efficiency. Chery said the partnership will place its 28 years of engineering capability under sustained pressure on a global stage.
Under the five-year plan, EXEED’s Le Mans pathway will be delivered in three stages. The program begins with the establishment of a domestic endurance racing series to build technical capability and motorsport talent. This will be followed by competition in the Asian Le Mans Series, before progressing to the formation of a factory EXEED team targeting an entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans itself — a move that would see EXEED become the first Chinese manufacturer team to contest the event.
Beyond racing, the partnership also includes collaboration between Chery and ACO to develop a Le Mans-certified circuit in Wuhu, Chery’s headquarters city. The circuit is intended to support motorsport development, technical validation and fan engagement within China.
Chery has positioned the Le Mans program as a technology-led initiative rather than a branding exercise, with endurance racing data expected to inform future production vehicles. Areas of focus include powertrain efficiency, long-term durability and overall vehicle reliability.
For Chery, the partnership reflects a broader ambition to evolve from a vehicle exporter into a global automotive technology player, using endurance motorsport as a proving ground for next-generation engineering capability rather than short-term promotional exposure.
