Chery Malaysia has achieved a significant milestone with the commencement of local assembly works (CKD) for the Chery Omoda E5 at the Inokom manufacturing facility in Kulim, Kedah.
This initiative marks the first among Chinese EV makers, although other brands like Neta and Dongfeng will soon follow suit with their Malaysia CKD production plants now already in construction. The Omoda E5, launched in March this year, is Chery’s first EV model in Malaysia and joins the ranks of other locally assembled Chery models, including the Tiggo 7 Pro, Tiggo 8 Pro, and Omoda 5.
Separately, Chery’s sister brand, Jaecoo has also established a new local assembly plant in Shah Alam, which currently produces the Jaecoo J7.
Priced at RM146,800 on-the-road without insurance, the Chery Omoda E5 is offered in a single variant here in Malaysia. It features a front-mounted electric motor that delivers 204 hp and 340 Nm, allowing it to reach 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds.
Equipped with a 61 kWh battery pack, the Omoda E5 offers a range of 430 km based on the WLTP test cycle. It supports AC charging up to 9.9 kW and DC charging up to 80 kW, enabling a quick charge from 30% to 80% in just 28 minutes. The car also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality with an output of 3.3 kW.
The company has not announced any changes in specifications and prices for the locally-assembled Chery Omoda E5 yet.
RELATED: Chery Omoda E5 set to be first locally assembled Chinese EV, CKD to begin in Q2 2024
In a statement by Chery Auto Malaysia President, Leo Chen, highlighted the benefits of local assembly. “By assembling our cars locally, it not only allows us to provide more competitive pricing but also signifies Chery’s long-term commitment in Malaysia, fostering job creation and skill development within the local workforce,” said Chen.
Speaking at the line-off ceremony for the CKD Chery Omoda E5,Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Liew Chin Tong, noted as of September 30, 2024, there were 32,543 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) registered in Malaysia, with 98% being imported as completely built-up (CBU) units.
Liew further noted that in 2023, the automotive sector recorded a total import value of RM62.14 billion, compared to an export value of RM18.01 billion.
“Localising as much as possible in terms of manufacturing of vehicles has a balance of payment dimension. In 2023, the automotive sector recorded a total import value of RM62.14 billion, while total export value was RM18.01 billion,” said Liew.
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