Chery Partners with Jameel Motors to Launch Omoda and Jaecoo in Iraq

On August 11, Chery Automobile announced that it has signed an agreement with Middle East auto distributor Jameel Motors to introduce its Omoda and Jaecoo brands in the Iraqi market. Under the plan, Jameel Motors will distribute multiple models including the Omoda C5, C7, and the Jaecoo J5, J7, and J8. Except for the J7, which is a plug-in hybrid, all other models will be gasoline-powered.

Strong Demand in Iraq’s Automotive Market

In recent years, demand for new vehicles in Iraq has grown significantly. Industry estimates suggest that new car sales have increased by more than 28%, reaching around 161,000 units. As one of the country’s key industries—accounting for 8% to 10% of Iraq’s total imports—the automotive sector’s growth is creating new opportunities for Chinese carmakers in the Middle East. According to the Iraq Future Economic Research and Consulting Foundation, in the first half of this year, the number of vehicles China directly exported to Iraq rose to 18,000 units, up 71.4% from 10,500 units in the same period last year.

Chinese Brands Already Active in Iraq

Several Chinese brands, including Changan, MG, Geely, and Great Wall, are already selling vehicles in Iraq. Jameel Motors confirmed that its Iraqi operations will be led by Kamal Sultan, who has over a decade of experience in the Iraqi automotive market. Kamal played a key role in building the sales networks for Toyota and Nissan in Iraq, and has also led the establishment of marketing channels for Chinese brands such as Geely and Hongqi in the country.

Partnership Philosophy and After-Sales Strategy

Jasmmine Wong, Vice President of Jameel Motors, emphasized that Chinese automakers expanding overseas should choose partners carefully and adopt a long-term investment mindset rather than a short-sighted approach. She noted that some Chinese companies focus too heavily on pre-sales while neglecting after-sales service, which has led to customer dissatisfaction in Middle Eastern markets like Saudi Arabia. “If this aspect is handled more comprehensively, brands will be able to go further,” she said.