OMODA | JAECOO runs J7 PHEV Treasure Hunt across Malaysia, owners share real world fuel use

KUALA LUMPUR: OMODA | JAECOO Malaysia has wrapped up its JAECOO J7 PHEV SHS Treasure Hunt 2025, a customer drive event designed to put the J7 plug in hybrid’s claimed efficiency to the test in day to day conditions, while turning it into a convoy style game with checkpoints, tasks, and prizes.

Chery Corporate Malaysia Executive Vice President Men Lin Bo said the programme was meant to highlight the brand’s hybrid direction, adding, “The OMODA I JAECOO Super Hybrid System (SHS) is the cornerstone of our strategy in Malaysia. The JAECOO J7 PHEV was the first model to feature this breakthrough drivetrain. By intelligently balancing power and efficiency, it delivers exactly what our discerning customers seek.”

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Three regions, three weekends, one big convoy

The Treasure Hunt ran across three separate regional legs in early December, using set routes that included tourist stops and authorised dealer points.

• Northern region, 3 to 4 December, Penang, Kedah, Perak

• Central region, 5 to 6 December, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban

• Southern region, 7 to 8 December, Johor, Melaka

OMODA | JAECOO Malaysia said 77 JAECOO J7 SUVs joined across the three legs, with 160 participants in total. Vehicles were grouped into teams of five cars per group, following pre planned routes and completing challenges at each stop.

Tasks were a mix of navigation, teamwork, general knowledge, and content creation, including photo and video challenges. Points were collected throughout the route, and winners were decided at the end of each regional event, with prizes awarded based on overall rankings.

Owners talk real world usage

Beyond the games, the company said the Treasure Hunt also doubled as an owner meet up where participants compared real world fuel use and charging habits.

One owner, Dr. Karan Nair from Kuala Lumpur, shared how he uses the car for frequent commuting, saying, “I travel from Sendayan to the Klang Valley and places in between four to five days a week in my J7 PHEV. I’m very pleased that I only need to fill up fuel once a week.”

Another owner, Sasha How Kuan Yee, pointed to a longer trip and the convenience of basic charging, saying, “I recently travelled from Melaka to Penang for a 3 days 2 nights stay. My J7 PHEV showed a remaining range of 100 km after returning to Melaka. Recharging is also easy, simply plugging into a 3-point outlet for additional driving range.”

The brand keeps leaning on long distance challenges

OMODA | JAECOO Malaysia also tied the Treasure Hunt back to earlier endurance style drives involving the J7 PHEV.

It cited an October 2024 media drive in China, where Malaysian media joined participants from Italy, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom on a marathon run from Guangzhou to Wuhu. The company said the convoy covered more than 1,300 km on a single tank of fuel and a full battery without stopping to recharge, over a 13 hour drive that included heavy traffic, highways, and high speed expressways.

It also highlighted a claimed result from that challenge, where the J7 PHEV recorded an all electric range figure of 125.2 km, exceeding its official 106 km pure electric rating, with the brand attributing the outcome to how its SHS system manages energy use.

A second distance run was referenced as well, this time closer to home. In January 2025, five JAECOO J7 Plug in Hybrid Vehicles (2WD) drove from Singapore through Malaysia to Hatyai, Thailand, as another range test. The company said all five exceeded the claimed 1,200 km WLTP range, with the longest recorded at 1,427.5 km.

Price, local assembly, and key drivetrain numbers

In Malaysia, the JAECOO J7 PHEV is locally assembled in Shah Alam and priced at RM158,800. OMODA | JAECOO Malaysia says it uses a 1.5 litre turbocharged engine paired with an electric motor, with a combined system output of 347 PS and 525 Nm. The setup includes a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) and a dedicated hybrid battery pack.

End of year promos, stated as “value added packages”

Alongside the event recap, OMODA | JAECOO Malaysia also flagged its year end offers tied to the Christmas and New Year period.

From now until 31 December 2025, the company says customers can get up to RM14,000 in overall savings on the JAECOO J7 PHEV, which it lists as including a complimentary 10 year battery warranty extension, a free Wallbox charger, free service packages, and additional discounts under the Professional Affiliate Programme (PAP). It added that value added packages are available across the wider OMODA | JAECOO range, with terms and conditions applying.

For now, the Treasure Hunt looks like the brand’s latest attempt to build a tighter owner community around the J7 PHEV, while using real roads, real traffic, and real owners to keep the hybrid efficiency conversation going.

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