Chery's 2022 technology day on 16-September 2022 (Yaoguang 2025) was a headline event in many ways, not least of which is their GENE concept electric vehicle (EV), which previews the shape of things to come.

Perhaps cooler than ice cold strawberry shake, the GENE concept serves to explore the future design language of Chery's main line-up. It's electric yes, and Autohome where these photos are from, says it's juiced up by solar power.

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The pill-shaped SUV has got a lot of future-forward tech coming with it, including something called a meta-universe autonomous driving mode that also alters the logo and headlights to be in some woozy "metaverse virtual logo mode". Your move, Tesla Autopilot.

It's a big car for a four-seater too, measuring 5 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 1.75 meters high (thereabouts of a Kia Carnival). Slide off the powered tailgate and there's a couple of drones and a pair of electric skateboards beneath it.

Also read: Review: CKD 2022 Kia Carnival - For the boss or for the family? Why not both?

Behind the suicide doors is an interior that's designed with Chery's tech-centric "Galaxy Ecosystem", which means big screens (a curved 27" inch wraparound unit up front), and sliding/rotating powered seats.

The aforementioned meta autonomous driving mode will automatically adjust these seats to a semi-reclining position, and gives passengers virtual reality (VR) glasses to enjoy a graphical experience as the car does the driving bit...on its own.

Also read: The Omoda 5 and Tiggo SUVs are coming soon, and Chery Malaysia's new website proves it

It's all a bit Minority Report meets Blade Runner, but hey, it's a good goal for the 25-year old carmaker. Perhaps these are achieveable goals anyway – the company aims to invest CNY 100 billion (~RM 65 billion) in research in development within the next 5 years.

This investment will see the company develop new platforms, diversification of engine technology, new interior concepts, and vehicle ecosystems.