Chinese EV brand Deepal will be officially distributed in Malaysia under the control of Bermaz Auto (BAuto). Having previously acquired the distributorship for Xpeng, BAuto now has four marques under its stable, including Mazda and Kia.
Deepal is owned by Changan Automobile, which also carries the Avatr brand. Malaysians can expect Deepal models to be launched somewhere in mid-2025 and the units will be imported (CBU) from Rayong, Thailand, where the brand is beginning assembly in early 2025.
The plant has an annual capacity of 100,000 units with scalability up to 200,000 units if needed, and will also export right-hand drive models in the region.
Initially, the Deepal C-segment S05 and D-segment S07, both SUVs, will be launched here in Malaysia. Deepal’s portfolio also includes extended-range EVs (EREV), using an onboard combustion engine to extend the vehicle’s electric range.
RELATED: 2024 Xpeng G6 launched in Malaysia – from RM166k, up to 570km range
The S05 and S07 can be had in the usual battery electric vehicle (BEV) or EREV configurations. In the latter, the powertrain includes a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine that only charges the battery.
While it would be interesting to introduce EREV powertrains here, the tax exemptions for BEVs means it’s likely Deepal Malaysia will introduce that configuration. Previously, the Changan brand sold commercial vehicles in Malaysia under Berjaya China Motor.
In BEV configuration, the Deepal S07 carries a 66.8 kWh Lithium-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt-Oxide (NMC) battery for a NEDC range of 485 km.
As for the EREV S07, buyers can opt for either an 18.99 kWh, 31.73 kWh or 39.05 kWh battery with the 1.5-litre engine for a range of 1,045 km, 1,130 km or 1,200 km.
The S05 is not sold in Thailand but in its native China, it has a 56.12 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery for a CLTC range of 510 km. Power figures are 238 hp and 320 Nm of torque from the rear-mounted motor. Size-wise, the S05 measures in around the dimensions of the upcoming Proton eMAS7.
Interestingly, the headlights are available with Huawei’s Xpixel technology. Its 1.3-megapixel resolution functions similarly to Mercedes-Benz’s Digital Light headlights, meaning it can project patterns onto the road. There’s also an optional 4K camera for taking on top of the windscreen.
