JERUSALEM, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Corporation on Tuesday started selling three models of its cars in Israel.

The models, sold through the Israeli car dealership Carasso Motors, include the gasoline-powered crossover models Tiggo 7 Pro, Tiggo 8 Pro and FX, also known as the Omada 5.

"We are selling our models in Israel as the first stop before starting exports to Europe," Tim Zhang, Chery International's country director of the European region, told Xinhua.

The company chose Israel because it's a stable economy with high business potential, he said, adding that Chery also plans to sell electric cars in Israel in about a year.

Chery, founded in 1997 and based in Wuhu, eastern China, runs 18 car factories worldwide and has sold more than 10 million cars.

The company also operates research and development centers in China, Germany, the United States and Brazil, employing 5,500 automaker R&D personnel.