Lepas Malaysia social media pages go live — is a local debut around the corner?

KUALA LUMPUR: A new name has quietly emerged on Malaysia’s automotive radar — Lepas. Over the weekend, newly created social media pages for Lepas Malaysia went live on Instagram, suggesting that the Chery-backed brand is preparing to enter the local market very soon.

The timing and quiet rollout have raised eyebrows among industry observers, especially since Lepas is still a relatively new global player.

First introduced in April this year, Lepas is a sub-brand under Chery International aimed at offering more premium and design-forward vehicles targeted at a younger, style-conscious audience.

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

With the tagline “Born to Leap,” the brand is said to combine “leopard-like aesthetics” with passionate innovation — a clear signal of its intention to challenge conventional expectations in the SUV space.

Although the name might sound funny for Malaysians, the brand’s name gives clues to its personality. The “LE” in Lepas stands for “leap” and “leopard”, while “PAS” represents “passion” — reflecting a fusion of agility, style, and emotion. It’s branding with purpose, pointing toward vehicles designed to move both body and soul.

At the global unveiling earlier this year, the first model under the Lepas brand — the Lepas L8 — was revealed as a mid-size D-segment SUV. The L8 measures around 4.7 metres long and rides on a 2,800 mm wheelbase, placing it in the same territory as the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Proton X90.

More importantly, it was shown with multiple powertrains: a turbocharged petrol engine, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) setup, and a fully electric (EV) version. While specific technical details remain scarce, the use of Chery’s latest Super Hybrid and E0X EV platforms indicates that the L8 could arrive in Malaysia with impressive efficiency and range credentials — not to mention a full suite of advanced safety and driver assistance systems.

For Malaysia, the L8 makes a strong case as a lead-in model. The SUV format continues to dominate local sales, and with the L8’s stylish proportions, possible seven-seat layout, and electrified powertrain options, it could serve as a more upmarket alternative to Chery’s own Tiggo 8 Pro or Jaecoo J7.

The emergence of Lepas Malaysia’s social media pages further fuels this theory — suggesting that a local launch could be imminent, potentially as early as the final quarter of 2025.

Elsewhere in the region, Lepas has already made its presence felt. The brand was previewed at the 2025 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), where both the L8 and a smaller C-segment SUV — rumoured to be the Lepas L6 — were shown.

A more compact L4 model is also in the pipeline, aimed at urban buyers looking for a city-friendly vehicle with a youthful design and high-tech features.

It’s unclear at this stage whether Lepas will operate as a standalone entity in Malaysia or be integrated into existing Chery, Omoda, or Jaecoo dealer networks.

But judging by how quickly the brand’s social presence has been established here — complete with localised branding and teaser content — it’s fair to assume that the groundwork has already been laid.

The arrival of Lepas in Malaysia could mark the beginning of a new chapter for Chery’s growth here. While the Omoda and Jaecoo brands target more mass-market and rugged SUV buyers respectively, Lepas is clearly aimed at a younger, more image-conscious demographic — the kind that’s willing to pay a little extra for a car that stands out and feels a bit more exclusive.

If priced right and specified smartly, the Lepas L8 could very well shake up the current D-segment SUV landscape, offering Malaysian buyers yet another intriguing option from an increasingly confident Chinese automaker.

For now, all eyes are on Lepas Malaysia’s next move. A full model reveal or local preview could be just around the corner.

Also Read: Chery Malaysia rolls out Super Hybrid Tech, TIGGO 7 and 8 PHEV models to lead the way