Chery Malaysia Launches Its First CKD EV Line For The Omoda E5

Chery Malaysia reached a significant milestone today as it establishes its first dedicated local assembly (CKD) line for its Omoda E5 model. The line is located in Kulim, Kedah and now stands as the brand’s first EV-focused CKD line in Malaysia too.

The line was officially commemorated by Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Liew Chin Tong.

Critically, the new Omoda E5 CKD line sees a workforce composed of 99% Malaysians, thus showcasing Chery’s commitment to creating skilled local jobs. This assembly line in Kulim also holds the distinction of being the first operational EV assembly line from a Chinese brand in the country.

In his remarks at the line’s launch ceremony, Liew noted Malaysia’s lagging EV adoption rate, with only 1.2% of vehicle sales in 2023, compared to 12% in Thailand and 18% in Singapore. He emphasised the importance of EVs in Malaysia’s green transition and in reducing reliance on petrol.

As part of the National Energy Transition Roadmap, Malaysia aims to have EVs represent 20% of the total industry volume by 2030. Meeting this goal, Liew explained, will require collaboration between public and private sectors, as well as substantial investments in EV infrastructure and public transport to build a more sustainable future.

Initially launched as a fully imported (CBU) model back in March this year, the Omoda E5 is tagged at RM146,800. As recounted in our detailed review, the model brings impressive specifications to the market. Under the hood, it adopts an e-motor rated at 201 HP  and 340 NM, which is juiced by a BYD-supplied 61-kWh LFP ‘Blade’ battery. Altogether, the setup also sees the Omoda E5 promise up to 430 KM range too.

Charging capabilities are another highlight. The Omoda E5 supports both AC and DC charging, with a fast AC charging rate of 9.9 kW and a DC fast charging rate capped at 80 kW, allowing for a 30-80% charge in under 30 minutes.

With the launch of the Omoda E5 CKD, we could possibly expected Chery to offer a more competitive price point in the coming months, potentially making the E5 more accessible to a broader range of buyers and supporting Malaysia’s sustainable transportation goals.

Additionally, to further accelerate its electro-mobility initiatives across Malaysia, Chery plans to significantly expand its electrified vehicle (xEV) with the addition of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) next year.