Incoming Chinese brand Omoda has partnered with the RAC to provide its new Omoda 5 and E5 petrol and electric SUVs with a full roadside assistance package.

L-R: Omoda’s Craig Danns, aftersales, quality and warranty manager, and Thanos Athanasoulas, aftersales manager UK, with John Ellis, RAC head of OEM roadside

The cover is free throughout Omoda’s seven-year manufacturer’s warranty period, so long as servicing is carried out at an Omoda and Jaecoo service centre within the manufacturer’s recommended intervals.

The package gives all Omoda customers peace of mind that in the unlikely event that the car does break down and cannot be fixed at the roadside, they will be transported to the dealer nearest their home.

The signing makes Omoda the first Chinese car manufacturer to partner with the RAC and is the brand’s latest work to build a comprehensive aftersales strategy as it establishes itself in the UK.

Omoda, a subsidiary of Chery International, officially launched on 30 August 2024 and has already signed agreements with DHL to manage parts supply, Octopus Energy Group for preferential EV tariffs, home charging installations and leasing solutions, and Thatcham Research for insurance.

The Omoda dealer network currently covers 75 locations, with plans to expand to 100 sites by the end of the year, ensuring that all customers have nationwide access to sales and aftersales.

Every new Omoda vehicle will initially come with one year’s free RAC roadside assistance, with the policy automatically renewing for each further year, up to seven years in total, when serviced at an Omoda dealership. The RAC cover will also transfer with the vehicle in the event of a change of ownership.

Victor Zhang, executive vice president of Omoda UK, said: “This partnership with the RAC is the latest pillar in our wider aftersales proposition. As a new entrant to the UK, we know we have to earn the trust of the UK consumer and the RAC’s reputation will help give customers peace-of-mind.

“We’re very confident in the quality and reliability of our cars, but partnering with the RAC means that if customers do find themselves in need, most will get help within an hour, and four out of five cars will be fixed on the spot.”

The Omoda 5 is a compact SUV with coupé styling, featuring a 190hp 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. Inside, the car is equipped with two 10.25-inch high-resolution screens, multi-colour interior lighting, wireless phone charging and a full suite of ADAS safety technologies.

The all-electric Omoda E5 is powered by a 204hp electric motor and a 61kWh ‘blade’ battery with a WLTP range of 257 miles. The electric crossover SUV can charge up to 80kW, with a 30% to 80% top-up possible in 28 minutes.

Both the 5 and E5 have been awarded a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating and come with a seven-year / 100,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty as standard.