Gemini to return to Australian showrooms, but not as a Holden

The Gemini nameplate is destined to make a comeback to Australian showrooms.

Chinese carmaker Chery has announced its Gemini Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro have arrived in Australia, as the company prepares to relaunch locally after leaving our market following poor safety ratings and an asbestos recall.

Chery says the two SUVs have arrived in Port Kembla to Sydney’s south, with the vehicles set to undergo a number of “test drive activities” before formally going on sale in 2023.

While it’s not the first of the current-generation Chery models to arrive in Australia – with a camouflaged Omoda 5 spied in Melbourne back in July – it is confirmation the local relaunch has been delayed until the new year, with the company originally planning to begin operations in late 2022.

Curiously, Chery didn’t mention whether its Omoda 5 models had arrived, despite announcing two examples had begun their journey to Australia alongside the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 back in August.

The Omoda 5 small SUV will be the first model to go on sale here – being the only vehicle listed on the company’s Australian website currently – followed by the Gemini Tiggo 7 Pro SUV and seven-seater Tiggo 8 Pro SUV.

MORE: China’s Chery returning to Australia: Everything you need to know

The use of the Gemini name for the Australian market doesn't appear to be an innocent coincidence.

Indeed, it seems to be a conscious decision by the brand to appeal to Australians motorists, given the badge doesn't appear to be used in other markets in which the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro is sold.

Though hardly a surprise, the new Gemini won’t have any resemblance to Holden’s model, which was a rebadged Isuzu sold here from 1975 – introduced to compete against the tsunami of British and Japanese small cars, like the Ford Escort, Toyota Corolla, Datsun 180B, Chrysler Lancer, and the many rotary-powered Mazdas.

While production of the last Gemini ended in 1986, Holden continued to sell its remaining stock until 1988 – the same year General Motors’ trademark expired for the Gemini name, having owned it since 1967.