DR Automobiles

Last updated
DR Automobiles S.r.l.
Company type Private
Industry Automotive
Founded1985;40 years ago (1985)
FounderMassimo Di Risio
Headquarters
Macchia d'Isernia
,
Italy
Area served
 Italy
Key people
Massimo Di Risio (Chairman)
Products Automobiles
Brands
RevenueIncrease2.svg €700 million (2023)
Website www.drautomobilesgroupe.com

DR Automobiles Groupe is an Italian automobile company established in 2006. It mainly sells rebadged vehicles from Chinese automakers BAIC Group, Chery Automobile, Dongfeng Motor Corporation and JAC Motors.

Contents

It produces vehicles under 5 brands: DR, EVO, Sportequipe, ICH-X and Tiger.

History

The company was founded by Massimo Di Risio in 1985. In 2006 the DR brand was launched. [2] As of 2008,[ needs update ] the company had offices in Rome, Campobasso and Pescara. [3] [4]

Since November 2007, DR partners with Chery to assemble and distribute Chery vehicles in Italy under the DR brand. [5] [6] Some Chery vehicles are assembled at a facility in Macchia d'Isernia to be sold as DR vehicles. The original Chery Tiggo was marketed as the DR 5, while the Riich M1 became the DR 1. [7]

The company had a network of 20 dealers in Italy at the end of 2018. [8]

In 2020, DR launched their first subbrand called EVO, which at the same year, the company started rebranding vehicles from BAIC Group. [9]

In 2022, DR added a more "premium" brand called Sportequipe, which are also rebranded Chery vehicles. [10] [11] It also introduced the ICKX brand (later renamed to ICH-X due to a legal dispute with former motorsport driver Jacky Ickx), initially with one model in offer, the ICH-X K2, based on the first-generation Beijing BJ40; [12] at the same year, the company acquired the OSCA brand from the Maserati family. [13]

In February 2023, DR started selling its first electric vehicle, the DR 1.0, a rebranded Chery eQ1. [14]

Following the acquisition of Tiger Racing in 2023, in 2024 DR introduced the Tiger sub-brand, [15] which at the same year, the company started rebranding vehicles from Dongfeng Motor Corporation.

Products

Current models

DR

EVO

ICH-X

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

Tiger

Birba

Former models

DR

  • 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 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 QQ3)

EVO

References

  1. ↑ https://www.quattroruote.it/news/nuovi-modelli/2025/03/27/birba_il_gruppo_dr_debutta_nel_segmento_delle_microcar.html
  2. ↑ Tribunale di Isernia (PDF; (in Italian), retrieved 6 June 2020
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Viaggia sugli spot il Suv low cost prodotto a Isernia". Il Sole 24 ORE. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  5. ↑ Ciferri, Luca (2008-12-08). "Italians to help Chery". Automotive News Europe. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  6. ↑ Ally (2009-03-09). "DR Motor to sell rebadged Chery cars by mid-'09". Gasgoo. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  7. ↑ "Chery launches DR Euro brand". AUTOCAR. 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  8. ↑ "I NOSTRI DEALERS". DR Motor Company S.p.A. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  9. ↑ Grassi, Massimo (2023-10-23). "Dove vengono prodotte le auto DR?" [Where are DR cars produced?]. Motor1 Italia. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  10. ↑ "DR Automobiles Group's new Italian brand unveils LPG hybrid Sportequipe 8". auto-gas.net. 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  11. ↑ Rigatto, Alessandro (2022-10-17). "Sportequipe 8: la nuova top di gamma". alVolante.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ Murgida, Rosario (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. ↑ Magni, Mirco (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.
  15. ↑ Ragoni, Emiliano (2024-04-16). "Debutta in Italia il marchio Tiger". alVolante.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-12-07.
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