South African car enthusiasts were wowed at the 2025 Chery International User Summit in China, Wuhu from October 17 to 21, under the theme “Co-Create • Co-Define”.
The 2025 summit gathering was like a melting pot of South Africa’s diverse cultures as it hosted thousands of guests from nearly 100 countries through an integrated experience of driving, listening, co-defining and test driving session of the much anticipated new LEPAS L8.
The event offered an immersive look at Chery’s full-spectrum ecosystem powered by new energy and intelligent technology, covering every mobility scenario. From family sedans to off-road SUVs, from racetrack tests to outdoor challenges, Chery engaged participants through test drives, immersive experiences, and user research embodying its co-creation philosophy and showcasing how inclusive innovation is transforming mobility worldwide as participants brewed coffee and grilled snacks onsite the only missing thing was a lekker braai.
LEPAS, a subsidiary of the Chery Group which will make its debut in South Africa in February 2026, is all about transforming the manufacture’s vision into a driver’s ultimate experience. LEPAS showcased its brand value of “Elegant Drive,” by merging technology and lifestyle to inspire every user’s journey toward elegance. During the 2025 Chery International User Summit, LEPAS presented a series of highlights including the world’s first LEPAS Elegant Lifestyle House, LEPAS DAY, interactive test drives, and its first public safety test.
It was the first time that car engineers and designers handed over their car to be test driven in order for the drivers to give the manufacturer feedback on how they can improve the engineering. This systematic research approach serves not just as a feedback channel, but as a strategic bridge aligning technology evolution with user needs by transforming real-world user experiences into measurable data.
The immersive test drive spanning over 900 kilometres across Shanghai, Suzhou, Moganshan, Xuancheng and Wuhu, gave South African drivers a chance to see how the Lepas would perform on our local roads. Additionally users experienced the models’ remarkable endurance and adaptability at the off-road testing site, enjoying the thrill of mastering challenging terrains.
The drivers were in awe of the Lepas 8’s stability and endurance in Xuancheng’s misty hills, which could be likened to the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga. The highways to Suzhou, were remanence of the Johannesburg’s N2 as the Lepas’s Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) delivered a relaxed, intelligent driving experience against the poetic backdrop of Suzhou’s classic gardens. In Moganshan, the precise power response and steering calibration displayed the car’s ability for effortless control on the winding mountain roads of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Meander. At the campsite, the vehicle’s external power supply illuminated the site, creating a warm, elegant atmosphere where guests shared stories under the lights as if they were at the Kruger National Park.
Upon reaching Wuhu, guests enjoyed a scenic riverside cruise, concluding the journey with Automatic Parking Assist (APA) and Remote Parking Assist (RPA) demonstrations, showcasing LEPAS’s intelligent convenience as if they were at the edge of the Orange River as it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
This immersive test drive gathered media, key opinion leaders and users to experience the outstanding product strength of the LEPAS L8 a panoramic showcase of elegant driving and a vivid interpretation of its positioning: “Driving Your Elegance.”
The Global Journey of Driving Your Elegancehttps://t.co/poZJuoA4On#ArriveAlive @dealerfloor pic.twitter.com/a7MkNax6qD
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 29, 2025