Chery Corporate Malaysia Sdn Bhd has begun exporting vehicles from Malaysia to Southeast Asia, marking the first time a Chinese automotive brand has used the country as a regional export hub.
The move is a Chery strategy to establish Malaysia as its main production and research centre in the region.
The initial exports will include Jaecoo Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) SUVs and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) to Vietnam.
Additional markets such as Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines and Singapore will follow. The exports are supported by Chery’s production facility in Shah Alam, Selangor, along with partnerships with other local assembly plants to expand manufacturing capacity.
Chery Corporate Malaysia executive vice president Leo Chen stated that increasing export operations would boost production capacity, create economic opportunities, and enhance the local supply chain. The company aims to position Malaysia as the leading export base for Chery vehicles, including its Jaecoo sub-brand.
Following the launch of its first model, the J7, in July last year, Jaecoo is now focusing on rolling out the PHEV version .
The J7 comes in two versions: 2WD at RM138,800 and AWD at RM148,800.
It is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine making 194hp and 290Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The J7 PHEV is said to offer the best of both worlds with greater engine performance compared to pure ICE or fully electric vehicles.
Because of its Super Hybrid System technology, the J7 PHEV is the first in its class by delivering superior performance in terms of its pure electric range, energy consumption and endurance compared to contemporaries in the same class.
On paper, the J7 PHEV has a class-leading pure electric range of 106km (NEDC range) and the lowest fuel consumption in its class, at 5.99 litres per 100km, in a power-depleted state.
Most recently, the J7 PHEV was tested in a long-distance drive from Singapore to Hatyai, Thailand and clocked over 1,200km WLTP range. The WLTP range is the maximum distance an EV will travel on a single charge, based on a standardised test.
In 2024, Chery Group recorded its highest-ever annual sales, delivering over 2.6 million vehicles globally, a 38.4% increase from the previous year. Exports accounted for 1.1 million units, marking a 21.4% year-on-year rise as the company strengthens its presence in international markets.
