After a whole year of teasers, Chery will finally be making its first public appearance here in Malaysia, with an official brand debut set for the upcoming Malaysia Autoshow 2023.
While its cars are not quite ready for primetime yet (the official model launches are only expected in June 2023), customers will be able to test drive two of its models that have already been confirmed for a “phase one” launch in Malaysia – the Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro.
The company is also expected to announce its assembly partner here in Malaysia at the motor show, ahead of the commencement of its local assembly operations around June. Based on recent reports, Chery Malaysia recently signed an agreement with Sime Darby Motors to utilise the Inokom assembly plant in Kulim, Kedah.
The Omoda 5 will certainly be the spotlight at the Chery booth, thanks to its bold styling. Aimed directly at the Honda HR-V and Proton X50, the upcoming B-segment SUV will feature a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-four engine underneath its bonnet, paired to a CVT gearbox to send 147 hp and 230 Nm to the front wheels.
A fully-electric variant of the Chery Omoda 5 will also make its way into Malaysia later this year, but it’s unlikely that it’ll be displayed at the motor show, as the model only made its global debut last month. Read more about the Chery Omoda 5 EV here.
Not to be outdone by its “younger” sibling, the Tiggo 8 Pro also recently received a major update, which we will be getting here in Malaysia. Again, we’re not sure if the latest model will make an appearance at Malaysia Autoshow 2023 considering its recent global debut, but we’ve already had a closer look at the “all-new” model in China last month – read the full story here.
As promised during Chery’s first official appearance in Malaysia last year, the Tiggo 8 Pro will also be offered with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain later in the year. For its “phase one” launch, though, the seven-seater SUV will first be offered with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mill that’s good for 250 hp and 390 Nm, paired to a seven-speed DCT gearbox.
The Malaysia Autoshow 2023 is open to the public from 4-7 May 2023, with tickets priced from RM15 per day. More information on the motor show can be found on its official website, linked here.
