Chery Malaysia planning exports from new Shah Alam factory – RHD hub, R&D, RM1 bil investment pledged

Chery Malaysia planning exports from new Shah Alam factory – RHD hub, R&D, RM1 bil investment pledged

Chery Malaysia has issued a press release spelling out its integration plans and investment milestones. It all centres around the new Chery Corporate Malaysia plant in Shah Alam, which was officially opened last month.

The Shah Alam plant is starting life with the assembly of the upcoming Jaecoo J7 SUV for local consumption, with Chery’s current models – the Omoda 5, Tiggo 8 Pro and just-launched Tiggo 7 Pro – continuing to roll off the shared Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah.

But moving forward, there are ‘ambitious plans’ for Shah Alam and Malaysia, which will be a right-hand-drive hub with research and development facilities. This was confirmed by Zhang Guibing, president of Chery International, who was recently in town to inaugurate the new factory.

Chery’s Malaysia hub will be tasked with developing RHD versions of its cars not just for local and ASEAN consumption, but also for markets like the UK and Australia, Zhang said at the event. He added that Malaysia was chosen for its tropical climate, which is ideal for hot weather testing.

“While China operates with left-hand drive vehicles, Malaysia offers a unique opportunity to serve right-hand drive markets. We are very interested in expanding our business here and Malaysia could be our right-hand drive hub,” Zhang said, adding that Chery plans to explore exports to neighbouring RHD countries, leveraging Malaysia’s ‘strategic location and robust automotive ecosystem’.

The Chery International chief said that Wuhu-based carmaker – which is China’s top exporter of vehicles – has a long-term vision that includes “ensuring local partners are content and engaged, creating significant job opportunities for Malaysians, and introducing new technologies to the local market”.

Zhang said that all the above efforts would further strengthen the overall foundation of Chery’s operations in Malaysia, “ensuring a high standard of quality and efficiency that will ultimately build lasting customer trust”.

Late last year, Chery pledged an investment of RM1 billion to support Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030. The company described it as a long-term commitment that underscores its confidence in Malaysia’s potential, bolstered by the country’s policies and dedication to fostering growth and innovation within the automotive sector.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Hui Er on Jul 02, 2024 at 2:08 pm

    it would be better to see 100,000 rmb CKD here,
    like the Chery iCar 03 and V23

    they looks better than the Chery available here,
    yet much cheaper, easily game changer
    <4.5m also Malaysian's sweet spot due to tight parking space and ramps everywhere

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • ROTI CANAI on Jul 02, 2024 at 2:39 pm

    hopefully no more cabut wheels

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Chery Opatah 5 on Jul 02, 2024 at 2:52 pm

    Heard that the factory canteen serves killer mala hotpot. That’s why nobody manning the QC stations and broken axles left the factory unnoticed

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
  • welcome more of such investors to crackdown p1&p2 monopolies

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • Mantap

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • That puts madani under pressure to adopt ASEAN free trade on motor vehicles which we signed but did not honour due to proton.
    Previously Toyota, Hyundai wanted to set up rhd plant here but gomen refused their application.
    Chery on the other hand decided to build first, then discuss later. If conditions are good, then expand.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • i hope they can teach these local kroni companies on how to do things properly. it feels we are in the backseats whilst china QAQC are ahead of ours. Broken axle because of CKD unit, CKD is local bah, local problems with local companies. i hope chery gives options on buying CBU units as well.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 6
    • Craze on Jul 02, 2024 at 9:04 pm

      I can sense why you hate this or that so much, just stay in your past. Everyone have already move forward to be better

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Want to learn also not learning from the one with the worst QC ranking in their home country-lah.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Peppa on Jul 02, 2024 at 6:05 pm

    I hope this plant got demolished eithet by fire or bomb detonation. Along with its CEO of course

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 6
    • Craze on Jul 02, 2024 at 9:05 pm

      100% doesn’t like your comment. Hope you yourself will be fully abolished, then will be better

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Craze on Jul 02, 2024 at 9:04 pm

    Waiting for backward era china haters coming here to hate this or even hating cars from korea

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required