Chery reports interest in participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Car News China reported that Chery, the country's fourth-largest automaker, plans to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans within five years. The information surfaced following meetings between Chery executives and the ACO during the opening round of the Asian Le Mans Series in Sepang.

Cherty executives met with Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO, along with Frédéric Lequien, CEO of Le Mans Endurance Management, and Thierry Bouvet, the French organizer's racing director.

Daily Sportscar reported that there have been several meetings between Chery and the championship in recent months, involving the ACO, the FIA, and LMEM. Neither Chery nor the ACO have issued official statements, and there is no formal cooperation agreement as suggested by the Car News China report. Chery's interest is described as exploratory, with no definitions on whether they would seek to enter with an LMH, an LMDh, or start from GT3.

Photo By Maxime Lantz

Chery's Plan

The report details a three-phase program under the name "Road to Le Mans." The first stage would involve launching a national endurance series in China, with the goal of training drivers and developing in-house technical capabilities.

The second phase would include participation in the Asian Le Mans Series, although it does not specify in which category Chery would enter. The third and final stage would be to create the "Exeed Le Mans Team" to compete directly in the WEC and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Hypercar regulations of the WEC remain in effect until the end of the 2032 season, which would provide a stable framework if Chery were to materialize this plan in the coming years. Additionally, the report mentions plans to build an ACO-homologated circuit in Wuhu, the city where Chery is headquartered in Anhui province.

Founded in 1997 as a state-owned enterprise, Chery has become China's fourth-largest automobile manufacturer. The company sells vehicles in over 80 countries, and its premium Exeed line—which would reportedly be used for Le Mans—currently operates in China, Russia, the Middle East, and South America, with announced plans to expand into Europe.

Its motorsports experience is limited to the Dakar Rally. Chery participated in 2010 and 2011 with the Chery Rely X5, finishing in 28th and 29th positions in the overall car classification. For 2026, they have plans to compete in the main category with an electric vehicle through EBRO. They have no prior background in circuit endurance racing.

Precedents of Chinese Manufacturers in Racing

Other Chinese manufacturers already have a presence in international competitions. Lynk & Co, which belongs to the Geely Group, has been competing in the FIA TCR World Tour since 2019 with the Cyan Racing team. They have won nine world titles in the TCR era with full technical development from the manufacturer. For 2026, Cyan Racing will switch to the Geely Preface TCR, another line from the same group.

NIO also entered Formula E from the electric championship's first season in 2014-15, and Nelson Piquet Jr. gave them the drivers' title in that inaugural season.

In Mexico, MG Motor and Foton have had a presence in the Súper Copa Roshfrans during 2025, although more in sponsorship and commercial support roles rather than as technical development programs comparable to the previous cases.

The Chinese Industry Outside of Racing

China has become the undisputed giant of the global automotive industry. In 2024, the country produced 31.28 million vehicles and sold 31.44 million, maintaining its position as the world's largest market and producer for 15 consecutive years. Exports reached 4.9 million units in 2023, with projections suggesting they could double by 2030.

The electric and hybrid vehicle segment has been particularly explosive. In 2024, China produced and sold nearly 12.9 million new energy vehicles, consolidating its leadership in electrification.

All this production capacity, investment in technology, and global commercial presence makes their almost total absence from top-level racing even more notable. European, American, and Japanese manufacturers have historically used racing to develop technology and build prestige. Chinese manufacturers have remained largely on the sidelines.

Winning at Le Mans sells cars and builds technological reputation. Chinese manufacturers want to expand into Western markets, but they are doing so without that track record backing them.

More Chinese Manufacturers Interested

Chery is not the only Chinese manufacturer interested in the WEC. Daily Sportscar confirmed that BYD, China's largest private automaker, has made contact with WEC regulators to evaluate a possible program. BYD is in a similar situation: no official announcements or defined timelines.

BYD manufactures only electrified vehicles, including plug-in hybrids with its DM-i and DM-p systems. Competing in Hypercar, where hybridization is important for performance, would serve as a development laboratory to improve that technology and apply it to its road cars.