It’s been more than a year since Chery first announced its intention to re-enter the Malaysian market, but we now finally have a firm date. The Chinese carmaker has announced via its Facebook its official “brand launch” for Malaysia, set for July 6, where the Chery Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro will also be introduced alongside.
The Chery Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro are part of the company’s “Phase One” plans for the brand here in Malaysia – the former is a B-segment crossover, while the latter a D-segment seven-seater SUV. As a sign of Chery’s commitment towards the Malaysian market, both models are also going to be locally assembled from the get go.
The carmaker recently announced its partnership agreement with Inokom, and production has since begun this month.
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Setting its sights straight for the Proton X50, Honda HR-V, and Toyota Corolla Cross, the Chery Omoda 5 stands out from the crowded market with its attractive styling and extensive technology package.
Here in Malaysia, the Chery Omoda 5 will be offered with a single powertrain option at launch, consisting of a 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-four engine that makes 147 hp and 230 Nm. The company is also planning to introduce the fully electric variant of the Omoda 5 in Malaysia in the future, though the timeline for that will depend on the right-hand drive development of the model.
As for the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, the model that will be launched here in Malaysia next month will be based on the new Tiggo 8 Pro Max in China, with revised styling both inside and out, alongside a more extensive kit list than what was originally previewed in Malaysia last year.
Underneath the bonnet of the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro in Malaysia will be a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mill making 250 hp and 390 Nm of torque, with power sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The company is also planning to unveil a plug-in hybrid variant for the seven-seater SUV later this year.
The Chinese carmaker has announced that its models here in Malaysia will be covered by a 10-year, 1,000,000 km warranty for their powertrain components, to ease any reliability concerns for its cars.
Additionally, Chery Malaysia has also promised a “user-centric” aftersales network here on our shores, with over 70 outlets planned nationwide. At launch, the company already expects “no fewer than 30” up and running across the country.
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