Here’s something unexpected. There will soon be a new car brand in Malaysia and it’s Borgward. The Chinese carmaker with the German name will make its ASEAN debut in Malaysia, where the brand will be introduced later this month at the Malaysia Autoshow 2018.
According to The Malaysian Reserve, Borgward will launch two new models and have a signing ceremony of its ASEAN distributorship network at the show. The two models are the BX5 and BX7 SUVs.
“The SUV launches are for the ASEAN market. Additionally, Borgward will appoint its official distribution arms for the region, where more than 100 of them will come to the autoshow and receive the distributorship certificates,” Malaysia Automotive Institute CEO Datuk Madani Sahari said on Monday.
What’s even more surprising is the little-known brand, brought in by local partner Go Exim, has plans for CKD local assembly. Madani said Borgward will be deciding on the location of its factory soon, and that the newly created automotive hub in Bagan Datoh, Perak, is a potential site.
Founded in 1919, the Bremen-based carmaker went bankrupt in 1961 after producing 200,000 cars and racing at Le Mans and Nurburgring. Its 2015 revival – apparently ten years in the making – happened when Foton, China’s biggest commercial vehicle and truck company, purchased the name from Christian Borgward, the grandson of the company’s founder.
The BX7 midsize SUV was first unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. In China, it’s positioned by its maker as a “German branded, wide-bodied intelligent SUV” that combines rigorous German engineering, advanced technology, reliability, a distinct sporty wide body and outstanding performance and safety. The 4.7m seven-seater is powered by a 224 hp/300 Nm 2.0 litre turbo engine paired to a six-speed auto transmission.
The BX5 is a more compact 4.5m five-seat SUV that surfaced a year later in Geneva. It’s powered by a 1.8 litre turbo unit with 190 hp and 280 Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed auto and AWD.
GALLERY: Borgward BX7
