Mass production of the new Chery QQ, which will be called Chery QQ5, will finally start on January 9. Chery has worked for some three years on the the successor of the iconic QQ/QQ3.

The QQ5 will be launched on the Chinese auto market in the first half of this year, price will start around 50.000 yuan (US$ 8,030). Production of the current Chery QQ3 and Chery QQ3 Sport will likely continue for at least another year.

Power will come from 1.1 and 1.3 liter engines, mated to a 5-speed manual, a 4-speed automatic or a CVT. Later on Chery will launch a very cheap 1.0, that will be around the same time production of the old QQ3 finally stops.