Local assembly of Chery Omoda 5 and Tiggo Pro 8 set to begin in June

KUALA LUMPUR: After opening the ordering books of the Omoda 5 in Indonesia, the Chinese automaker Chery spilled some beans on its arrival in Malaysia. During a recent media gathering in Kuala Lumpur, the company’s International Executive Vice President Charlie Zhang confirmed that the local assembly of Chery cars will commence in June this year.

The automaker has formalised the assembly agreement with a local partner, whose identity is not yet revealed due to the non-disclosure agreement. 

Zhang also remained tight-lipped about the location of the assembly plant. However, the media reports suggest that CKD operations of Chery cars in Malaysia will be carried out at the Sime Darby Motors-Bermaz Auto co-owned Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah. And, as per the company’s previous statement, the plant will have an annual production capacity of 30,000 units.

In “Phase One,” Chery will undertake the local assembly of the Tiggo 8 Pro and Omoda 5, followed by the Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 4 Pro in the coming years. The local assembly would involve the localisation of parts such as plastic trims, tyres, and seat materials.

After the commencement of CKD operations in June, the company will make an official return to the local market in July 2023 with the launch of the Tiggo 8 Pro and Omoda 5. No specific timeline is yet announced for the Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 4 Pro.

For those who are not aware, the Tiggo 8 Pro is a seven-seater SUV that will rival the likes of the Mazda CX-8 and Hyundai Santa Fe. It will be offered with a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine in either FWD or AWD configuration. A PHEV trim combining a 1.5-litre turbo and two electric motors might also be added to the lineup next year.

The Omoda 5, on the contrary, is a five-seater SUV that will lock horns with the Proton X50 and Honda HR-V. It is expected to come equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged power plant. 

Zhang sees the Omoda 5 as the volume seller with the potential to grab 60% of the company’s sales, while the Tiggo 8 Pro will make up the remaining portion.

Also read: 7-seater Chery Tiggo 9 revealed in China