Chery’s global sales surge, Malaysia set for more new models

KUALA LUMPUR: Chery Group has wrapped up July 2025 on a high note, selling 224,439 vehicles worldwide — a 14.7% jump compared to the same month last year. Out of that total, 65,357 were new energy vehicles (NEVs), reflecting a 44.1% year-on-year increase.

Malaysia is among the overseas markets contributing to this momentum. Since the brand’s re-entry in 2023, models like the Omoda 5, Tiggo Cross, Tiggo 7 Pro, and Tiggo 8 Pro have become increasingly familiar sights on local roads.

The company’s global growth also comes as it prepares to expand its local line-up, with the Jaecoo J5 set to debut at OMODA & JAECOO's upcoming carnival and more electrified models expected in the near future.

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Exports in July rose 31.9% to 119,090 units, keeping Chery firmly at the top of China’s automotive export rankings. While markets like Brazil and Australia account for larger monthly volumes — over 6,000 units and around 3,000 units respectively — Chery Malaysia has been steadily scaling up operations here through wider dealership coverage, locally-assembled (CKD) models, and targeted launches for the Malaysian audience.

From January to July 2025, Chery sold a record 1,484,563 vehicles globally, a 14.5% increase over the same period last year. NEV sales surged 87.7% to 424,737 units, aligning with the growing interest in electrified vehicles in Malaysia, boosted by government incentives and an expanding charging network. Chery now counts over 17.18 million customers worldwide, including more than 5.17 million overseas owners.

Climbing the fortune rankings

July also marked Chery’s achievement of what it calls the “Double 500” milestone. The automaker rose to 233rd on the Fortune Global 500 list, up from 385th last year, and to 59th on the Fortune China 500, up from 100th in 2024 — making it the fastest-rising carmaker on both lists.

The company has also become the first Chinese automotive brand to surpass 5 million cumulative vehicle exports worldwide — a figure that includes the growing number of Malaysian buyers.

Technology and Safety Tied to Malaysian Driving

Chery’s growth isn’t just about sales figures — it’s also investing heavily in vehicle platform architecture, hybrid powertrains, electric drive systems, battery technology, and in-car digital features. A highlight is the self-developed Chery Super Hybrid (CSH) system, which is expected to play a role in future Malaysian offerings.

Safety remains a major talking point. The company’s Global Safety Challenge has been subjecting its vehicles to a series of extreme real-world trials across five countries.

In China, tests have included spiral rollovers, dual-vehicle collisions, and a dramatic seven-vehicle vertical stack. In Indonesia, a CSH battery was immersed in seawater for 54 hours, while in Mexico it faced a battery scrape test. The challenge will wrap up later this year in Brazil and South Africa.

For Malaysian buyers, these rigorous safety demonstrations are especially relevant, given the country’s varied driving conditions, unpredictable weather, and flood-prone roads during monsoon season.

Chery says such testing ensures that its vehicles can handle not just the demands of global markets, but also the realities of local ones.

Also Read: Chery Tiggo Cross starts local production in Malaysia – Turbo and Hybrid from RM88,800