Chery UAE has expanded its CarLinko connected-car app across its Super Hybrid range, and in a market where cars sit in 45-degree car parks for much of the year, one feature stands out above the others: you can now start the engine and turn on the air conditioning from your phone before you walk outside.
The app covers the TIGGO 7, TIGGO 8 and TIGGO 9 Super Hybrid models, along with the ARRIZO 8 PHEV. It relies on an onboard telematics unit Chery calls the T-Box, which keeps the car connected to the owner’s smartphone. From the app, drivers can lock and unlock the car, open or close the windows, operate the sunroof, and start or stop the engine remotely. It also reports the car’s status, including fuel or battery level, tyre pressure and cabin temperature, plus driving data such as total mileage, remaining range and fuel or energy consumption.
Some of the smaller features may end up getting the most use. There’s a locate function that makes the car beep, which will be welcome in any multi-level mall car park in Dubai. There are also scheduled journeys, charging reminders for the plug-in models, and support for managing several vehicles from one account, which makes sense for families with more than one Chery.
The rollout comes after Chery UAE launched a 360-degree virtual showroom in August, letting shoppers look around the exterior and interior, check specifications and compare colours across its local range online before visiting a dealer. The company describes it as a starting point for buyers, not a replacement for physical showrooms.
