The original Tiggo first debuted at the 2005 Shanghai Motor Show and was called the NCV, meaning New Concept Vehicle.

Outside of China, the Tiggo 3 has also been assembled in Uruguay from as of late 2007,[11] as a result of a partnership between Chery and Argentine company SOCMA.

[12] The goal was to export the car to Argentina and Brazil – 30% to 50% share of local components are needed to receive zero-tariff status inside the Mercosur.

It was introduced at the 2006 Bologna Motor Show and started the production in 2007, at the factory in Macchia d'Isernia.

[15]A 2011 Tiggo 3 was put to an offset crash-test by the ANCAP in October 2011 and scored a poor result of only two stars out of five.

[16][17] However, even the maximum score in the side impact test would not have been enough to improve the car's safety rating beyond two stars.