The second-generation Chery Tiggo 8 large SUV has been revealed in China, but recent news from the fast-growing auto brand suggests it might not wear Chery badging if it’s released in Australia.
The sleeker, more smoothly styled Tiggo 8 is due to launch in its domestic market in the fourth quarter of 2025, but it’s possible that – at least in one form or another – it will be among the first models sold locally under Chery’s new Lepas brand, which has been confirmed for local launch in 2026, likely as the Lepas L8.
Confusingly, Chery Automobile has confirmed there will be two front fascia designs available for the second-generation Tiggo 8 in China.
One is identical to that of the L8, which was rebadged as such for export markets from April this year, while the other bears a stronger resemblance to that of the outgoing Tiggo 8 Pro Max.
This opens up two possibilities. One is that Chery removes the Tiggo 8 Pro Max from its Australian lineup, leaving Lepas responsible for selling the new seven-seat SUV as the L8; the other is that both the new Chery Tiggo 8 and Lepas L8 are sold here alongside one another, wearing different front-end designs and potentially offering different powertrains.
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If the latter was to eventuate, it wouldn’t be the first time Chery has shuffled models between its several brands. The arrival of Omoda Jaecoo earlier this year saw the Omoda 5 become the Chery C5, for example, while several other models have since been introduced under the Omoda and Jaecoo brands.
Other Australian models, such as the Jaecoo J7 and J8, are also rebadged Cherys. The Chinese manufacturer has as many as seven different brands globally, and any of themcould make their way to Australia in the coming years.
A Chery Australia spokesperson previously told CarExpert the current Tiggo 8 Pro Max will remain on sale for the foreseeable future. However, the new-generation model will likely arrive here at some point, possibly earlier than expected given the rapid rollout of updates to Chery’s top-selling Tiggo 4 small SUV.
The L8 is also exceedingly likely to be the first Lepas-badged model released in Australia.
Regardless of its identity, specifications are so far scarce for the newly revealed Tiggo 8. Car News China reports that it’s larger than the outgoing model, measuring 4749mm long, 1880mm wide, and 1710mm tall, riding atop a 2825mm wheelbase.
Compared to the current Tiggo 8, it’s 27mm longer and 20mm wider, but 35mm shorter, while its wheelbase has been significantly lengthened from 2710mm.
Chery has yet to confirm any powertrains for the new SUV. In Australia, the Tiggo 8 is available with two powertrains: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine or a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system, the latter designated as a Super Hybrid.
Overseas, there are also 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine available for the Tiggo 8. According to an April report from Automotive News Europe, Lepas will offer the choice of petrol, PHEV, and electric powertrains, though the L8 is currently only available overseas with a 1.5-litre PHEV powertrain.
Styling-wise, the second-generation Tiggo 8’s new L8 fascia also makes it look a lot like the facelifted seven-seat Tiggo 8 Plus, which is set to be launched here as the Tiggo X, featuring split headlights, black front bumper elements, and an X-pattern front grille – also identical to the Lepas L8.
The other version adopts Chery’s more familiar diamond-pattern grille, paired with a more angular front bumper featuring silver accents.
The rear-end also features a light bar across the tailgate, ‘CHERY’ lettering below the rear windscreen, and dual exhaust outlets, representing a simplified evolution of the current model.
The Tiggo 8 Pro Max arrived in Australia in early 2024 as Chery’s largest SUV. So far this year, it has been the brand’s slowest-selling model, with 2066 deliveries to the end of August 2025, which is less than the Tiggo 7 (3154) and all versions of the C5 (3516).
A PHEV powertrain was introduced to the lineup earlier this year, expanding the model’s breadth alongside the mechanically similar Tiggo 7.
Pricing for petrol versions of the Tiggo 8 Pro Max currently ranges between $41,990 and $47,990 drive-away, while PHEV alternatives are priced from $45,990 to $49,990 drive-away – making it among the cheapest PHEVs currently on sale in Australia.
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