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Chery QQ

The Chery QQ (codename S11) is a city car produced by the Chinese manufacturer Chery Automobile since 2003. From 2006 the car was renamed the Chery QQ3 in China, when Chery launched their new supermini the Chery QQ6.

The Chery QQ is available with the following two gasoline-powered engines (both EURO III compliant):

0.8 L SQR372 I3 DOHC 12v — at 6000 rpm, at 3500 rpm
1.1 L SQR472F I4 DOHC 16v — at 6000 rpm, at 3500 rpm

Copyright Controversy

The QQ remained at the center of an industrial copyright and intellectual rights controversy, with General Motors having claimed that the QQ was highly similar to the Chevrolet Spark/Daewoo Matiz. GM executives demonstrated the extent of the design duplication, noting for example that the doors of the Chery QQ and Chevrolet Spark are interchangeable without modification.

GM China Group indicated the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components."
MotorAuthority.com and Car and Driver called the QQ a "carbon copy."
The International Herald Tribune in a 2005 article, referred to the QQ as a clone.

Putting the controversy in important context, the Detroit News reported that "the dispute reflects the confusion, risks and ambitions in China's new auto industry, where global carmakers are battling pugnacious upstarts for a piece of what may become the world's largest auto market.

Global markets

In Iran, the Chevrolet Spark/Daewoo Matiz had been assembled by local company Kerman Khodro since the year 2000 in a joint venture with the South Korean GM Daewoo. However the crisis at Daewoo resulted in a take-over by the American General Motors corporation, which then put a ban on Iran and stopped supplying CKD kits to the Iranian company. This resulted in Kerman Khodro licensing the Chery QQ car for the replacement and put it into production at their subsidiary MVM.

Competition

Although once the least expensive in its class, the Chery QQ may face a challenge from the embattled Tata Nano from Tata Motors, India, currently projected to be less expensive when it arrives.

However, according to the specifications posted and auto exhibition reviews, Tata Nano is still far from competing with Chery QQ in terms of quality, accessories, and more.