Chery Corporate Malaysia Sdn Bhd is set to begin exporting vehicles to the Southeast Asian (SEA) market this year, marking a significant milestone as the first Chinese automotive brand to export from Malaysia. This move aligns with Chery’s strategy to position Malaysia as its regional production hub.

Chery Corporate Malaysia Executive Vice President Leo Chen highlighted the company’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the region. “Chery is progressing well towards establishing Malaysia as our production and research and development (R&D) hub in Southeast Asia. Expanding our exporting capabilities enhances our production capacity to meet the region’s growing demand,” he stated. Chen also emphasised Chery’s role in contributing to Malaysia’s economy, developing local talent, and strengthening the supply chain, reaffirming the company’s ambition to make Malaysia the leading export hub for its vehicles, including its premium sub-brand, Jaecoo.

The initial phase of exports will see Malaysia supplying Jaecoo Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) SUVs and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) to Vietnam. Additional models and brands are expected to follow, with expansion plans targeting other SEA markets such as Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Chery’s production facility in Shah Alam, Selangor, serves as the backbone of its export strategy. To accommodate future growth, the company has also forged strategic partnerships with other local assembly plants in Malaysia, ensuring scalability and efficiency in production.

In 2024, the Chery Group achieved a record-breaking annual sales figure of over 2.6 million vehicles, reflecting a 38.4% increase year-on-year. Exports contributed significantly to this growth, reaching 1.1 million units—an increase of 21.4% from 2023.