DR Automobiles

DR Automobiles S.r.l.
Founded2006
HeadquartersMacchia d'Isernia, Italy
Key people
Massimo Di Risio (president)
ProductsAutomobiles
Brands
  • DR
  • Evo
  • Sportequipe
  • ICH-X
  • Tiger
RevenueIncrease €700 million (2023)
WebsiteOfficial website

DR Automobiles (previously DR Motor Company) is an Italian automobile company established in 2006. It mainly sells rebadged vehicles from Chinese automakers BAIC, Chery Automobile and JAC Motors.

History

[edit]

DR was founded by Massimo Di Risio in 2006.[1] As of 2008,[needs update] the company had offices in Rome, Campobasso and Pescara.[2][3]

Since November 2007, DR partners with Chery to assemble and distribute Chery vehicles in Italy under the DR brand.[4][5] Some Chery vehicles are assembled at a facility in Macchia d'Isernia to be sold as DR Automobiles vehicles. The original Chery Tiggo was marketed as the DR5, while the Riich M1 became the DR1.[6]

The company had a network of 20 dealers in Italy at the end of 2018.[7]

In 2020, DR launched their first sub-brand called Evo, which is based on BAIC vehicles.[8]

In 2022, DR Automobiles added a more "premium" brand called Sportequipe, which are also rebranded Chery vehicles.[9][10] It also introduced the ICKX brand (later renamed to ICH-X due to a legal dispute with former motorsport driver Jacky Ickx) with one model in offer, the ICH-X K2, based on the Beijing BJ40.[11] In February 2023, DR Automobiles started selling its first electric vehicle, the DR 1.0, a rebranded Chery eQ1;[12] in the same year the company acquired the O.S.C.A. brand from the Maserati family[13]

In 2024, DR introduced the Tiger sub-brand, for the marketing of Chinese cars of the Dongfeng brand, in particular its sub-brand Forthing.[14]

Products

[edit]

Current models

[edit]

DR

[edit]
  • DR 1.0 (2023–present, based on the Chery eQ1)
  • DR 3 / 3.0 (2016–present, based on the Chery Tiggo 3x)
  • DR 5.0 (2020–present, based on the Chery Tiggo 5x)
  • DR 6.0 (2022–present, based on the second-generation Chery Tiggo 7)
  • DR PK8 (2023–present, based on the JAC Shuailing T8)
  • DR 1.0
    DR 1.0
  • DR 3.0
    DR 3.0
  • DR 5.0
    DR 5.0
  • DR 6.0
    DR 6.0

EVO

[edit]
  • Evo 3 (2020–present, based on the JAC Refine S2)
  • Evo 4 (2020–present, based on the JAC Refine S3)
  • Evo 5 (2020–present, based on the Chery Tiggo 3 between 2020 and 2022, and later the second-generation Beijing X3 since 2023)
  • Evo 6 (2024–present, based on the Forthing T5 Evo)
  • Evo 7 (2023–present, based on the Sehol X8)
  • Evo Cross 4 (2022–present, based on the JAC Shuailing T8)
  • Evo Spazio (2024–present, based on the Forthing Yacht)
  • Evo 3
    Evo 3
  • Evo 4
    Evo 4
  • EVO 5 (Second-generation)
    EVO 5 (Second-generation)
  • EVO Cross 4
    EVO Cross 4

ICH-X

[edit]

Formerly known as ICKX between 2022 and 2024.

  • ICH-X K2 (2023–present, based on the first-generation Beijing BJ40)
  • ICH-X K3 (2024–present, based on the Jetour T2)
  • ICH-X K4 (2024–present, based on the JAC Hunter)

Sportequipe

[edit]
  • Sportequipe 5
    Sportequipe 5
  • Sportequipe 6
    Sportequipe 6

Former models

[edit]

DR

[edit]
  • DR 1 (2009–2014, based on the Riich M1)
  • DR 2 (2010–2014, based on the Chery A1)
  • DR 4 (2016–2020, based on the JAC Refine S3)
  • DR 5 (2007–2020, based on the Chery Tiggo 3)
  • DR 6 (2016–2020, based on the Chery Tiggo 5)
  • DR 4.0 (2022–2024, based on the Chery Tiggo 5x, continuation of the pre-facelift DR 5.0)
  • DR 7.0 (2023–2024, based on the Chery Tiggo 8)
  • DR CityCross / CityVan (2013–2016, based on the Riich X1)
  • DR F35 (2020–2023, based on the first-generation Chery Tiggo 7)
  • DR Zero (2015–2019, based on the second-generation Chery QQ)
  • DR Zero
    DR Zero
  • DR 1
    DR 1
  • DR 4
    DR 4
  • DR 5
    DR 5
  • DR 6
    DR 6
  • DR 4.0
    DR 4.0
  • DR F35
    DR F35

EVO

[edit]
  • EVO 6 (2020–2021, based on the Chery Tiggo 5)
  • Evo 5 (First-generation)
    Evo 5 (First-generation)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Tribunale di Isernia (PDF; (in Italian), retrieved 6 June 2020
  2. ^ Marek Brzeżański, Robert Jabłoński: Cars of the World. 2008 · 2009. Moto Media Print, Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki 2008, ISBN 978-83-61604-12-9, page 323.
  3. ^ "Viaggia sugli spot il Suv low cost prodotto a Isernia". Il Sole 24 ORE. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  4. ^ Ciferri, Luca (2008-12-08). "Italians to help Chery". Automotive News Europe. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  5. ^ Ally (2009-03-09). "DR Motor to sell rebadged Chery cars by mid-'09". Gasgoo. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  6. ^ "Chery launches DR Euro brand". Autocar. 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  7. ^ "I NOSTRI DEALERS". DR Motor Company S.p.A. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  8. ^ Grassi, Massimo (2023-10-23). "Dove vengono prodotte le auto DR?" [Where are DR cars produced?]. Motor1 Italia. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  9. ^ "DR Automobiles Group's new Italian brand unveils LPG hybrid Sportequipe 8". auto-gas.net. 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  10. ^ Rigatto, Alessandro (2022-10-17). "Sportequipe 8: la nuova top di gamma". Alvolante.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  11. ^ Gori, Gianmarco (2022-06-17). "Sportequipe e ICKX, ecco a chi si rivolgono i due nuovi marchi DR". Motor1 Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  12. ^ Modelli, Nuovi (2023-02-13). "DR 1.0 EV - L'elettrica mignon ha quattro posti e prezzi sotto i 20 mila euro". Quattroruote.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  13. ^ Finanza, Industria e (2022-09-19). "O.S.C.A. - Il proprietario della DR rilancerà lo storico marchio bolognese". Quattroruote.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  14. ^ "Debutta in Italia il marchio Tiger". alvolante.it. alvolante.it. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
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