JERUSALEM -- Chinese carmaker Chery launched a new hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) in Israel on Monday, its local distributor Freesbe said in a statement.

The model, Chery Tiggo 7 HEV, is a compact crossover SUV powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor with a 1.8-kWh battery.

The car has a combined power of 246 horsepower, paired with a special hybrid transmission called DHT that smoothly manages both the engine and the electric motor. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 175 km/h.

Chery was the best-selling brand in Israel in the first quarter of 2026, according to data issued by the Israel Vehicle Importers Association.

The data showed that the company sold a total of 21,521 cars across 11 models in Israel, including gasoline, full-electric, and hybrid cars.

Chinese automakers led Israel's imported passenger car market in the first quarter, with 39,127 cars delivered, followed by South Korea with 17,828 and Japan with 10,630 units.