Chery, which was set up in 1997, is the parent company of global brands such as Omoda and Jaecoo as well as manufacturing cars under its own name.
Robinson said the move, which comes after months of talks, “recognises our strengths” and “puts Liverpool at the forefront” of advanced manufacturing.
There are no details yet on where exactly in the city Chery cars will locate its new European headquarters or when, but it is hoped it will create hundreds of new jobs.
Liverpool’s links with China go back nearly 200 years.
Shanghai is one of its sister cities.