Chery Will Commence CKD Operations in Malaysia Starting With The Omoda 5

Chinese car brand Chery is reportedly set on its re-entry into the Malaysian market sometime in the second quarter (Q2) of 2023. Said effort will also see the firm setting up a local assembly (CKD) line for the Omoda 5 crossover SUV, making Malaysia the model’s first right-hand-drive (RHD) market too.

This follow up from the brand’s local preview event held back in October this year. Besides the Omoda 5, other models like the Tiggo 4 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro, and Tiggo 8 Pro SUVs were also previewed then.

Being one of its most significant RHD markets, Chery is also reportedly seeking to establish a research and development (R&D) facility in Malaysia in addition to the existing manufacturing facility. 

The OMODA 5 is set to be offered with two standard powertrain packages – a 1.5-litre TCI with CVT gearbox and a 1.6-litre TGDI with 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). It is understood that the latter plus exclusive all-wheel drive (AWD) setup will be included in the top-tier specification.

News of the local assembly (CKD) effort surfaced following reports that Chery had gone into discussions with INOKOM Corp Sdn Bhd in November. Said discussions indicated that the Chinese automaker was finalising the assembly contract with INOKOM - a subsidiary of Sime Darby Group.

Presently, there is no confirmation to all this just yet as Chery is still pending approval from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

Apart from all this, it’s also worth noting that the Omoda 5 is also available in an all-electric version too. Given the company's plans include assembling all-electric and plug-in hybrid models locally, we may see this model made available in Malaysia in the near future.