Chery's Tiggo SUV model is now available on the Brazilian market, company spokesman Jin Yibo told Automotive News China.

 

The vehicle is built through complete knockdown kits (CKD) in Uruguay.

 

Fitted with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine, the Tiggo sells for 49,000 real ($25,000) in Brazil, according to information released by Chery.

 

After the Tiggo, another model built through CKD in Uruguay, the Chery A1 small car, will hit the Brazilian market "in the near future", Jin added, without giving a specific timeframe.

 

Further models to explore the Brazilian market will include the QQ small car and the A3 hatchback, said Jin.

 

But Chery has yet to decide on whether to export them from its plant in China or its assembly plant in Uruguay, he added.

 

Chery's $12 million kit assembly plant in Uruguay is a 51-49 joint venture between Chery and Argentina's Socma group. It started operation in May 2008.

 

With an annual production capacity of 20,000 vehicles, the plant is the only assembly facility Chery has built in South America.

 

In 2008, the plant sold more than 300 vehicles in Uruguay and more than 800 vehicles in Argentina, according to figures released by Chery.