I am likely getting a new car this year and have the new Toyota Corolla at the top of the list. Yesterday, just for fun I searched for "New car Malaysia 2023" on the internet and one of the models caught my attention. Chery Omoda 5.

To cut a story short, why can't Japanese manufacturers come up with something as appealing as this. I'm not referring to the engine, reliability or performance but the overall exterior looks which look premium and classy, and the interior design beats all Corolla Cross and hrv to me. If the Omoda 5 has a Toyota badge on it, I'll buy it without hesitation.

The last I heard was the Omoda 5 will be priced around RM130k to 140k, launching next week or next month.

It is highly unlikely I'm going with the Chery. Right now it's only the new Toyota Corolla model that is due to launch anytime now. There are no other cars that interest me at the moment other than Toyota Corolla. My main priority first and foremost is reliability and problem-free. Other considerations such as comfort and quietness as well as looks both exterior and interior design come in next. Power, handling and performance used to be the top priorities for me 10 years ago but they are now at the bottom and are of least importance to me.

I don't think there are other brands that can do better than Toyota in the aspects that I value and if there is one, I would appreciate if you can offer some insight. May I know which Toyota model have you owned?

I've had a 2nd look at the Mazda 3. The 2.0 low spec model at RM150k may still be reachable. However, if I"m not mistaken the model is already near to its cycle as the new model with Skyactiv X may be replacing the current model soon. Since you are always up to date with the current trends and news in the automotive industry, do you know roughly when Mazda will bring in the new Mazda 3 model with Skyactiv X that will replace the current model?

The Mazda 3 was launched in 2019 or 2020 if I'm not mistaken. So it's about time since the replacement cycle with Japanese cars is around 4 years. Next year 2024?

Tengku Zafrul: NIMP2030 to capitalise on US$2.7 bln Asean EV market
07-07- 2023 07:05 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: The New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP2030), to be launched in August this year, will be capitalising on the US$2.7 billion (US$1=RM4.66) Asean electric vehicle (EV) market, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

He said Chery Malaysia’s plan to inject an initial capital of RM170 million for its expansion strategies here will not only provide variety and excitement to the local auto market but also support Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth through strategic sectoral growth.

As part of its global expansion, the Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer today announced the injection of RM170 million for expansion in Malaysia, which will provide 4,000 high-paying, high-skilled jobs for Malaysians in the next five years.

“Mass electrification from the automotive sector fits in well with the country’s national environmental, social and governance (ESG) and net zero agenda from the manufacturing industry’s perspective. As such, we have already started pushing for higher EV penetration within our country.

“As Malaysia is a major electrical and electronics manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia, automakers like Chery can easily leverage on this to help grow Malaysia’s production of next-generation vehicles (or NxGVs),” he said in his speech at the official grand launch of Chery Malaysia’s Tiggo 8PRO and Omoda 5 here today.

Chery Malaysia, according to Tengku Zafrul, is also targeting to launch both its EV and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) models to reach around 20 per cent of the EV market share in Malaysia by as early as 2024, and will also introduce its affordable EV models in future.

“The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) welcomes all these initiatives as they are aligned with our national aspiration of having 15 per cent total industry volume (TIV) for electrified vehicles (EV and hybrid) by 2030, and 38 per cent of TIV by year 2040,” he said.

The minister said that Malaysia has a dynamic automotive industry which supports over 700,000 workers in its ecosystem, accounting for over 4.4 per cent of the Malaysian workforce.

Its contribution to Malaysia’s GDP is about four to five per cent on average annually, and it delivered RM64.5 billion towards the national GDP in 2022.

Miti is targeting to increase the sector’s GDP contribution to RM104.2 billion by 2030.-Bernama

Unlike their previous foray, Chery has chosen to enter the market this time without a local partner, opting to cut its own path in a competitive market. Even the mighty BYD chose to partner with major player Sime Darby. Additionally, Chery confirmed that 31 dealerships will be ready to serve new customers by launch date, with more scheduled to open by the end of 2023.

Another point to highlight about Chery’s aggressive plans is their bringing both the Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro to market in CKD, locally-assembled form right from the outset with all Chery models sold here to have rolled off the Inokom plant in Kulim. This is opposed to the usual practice of introducing an initial batch of fully imported cars to achieve an earlier launch date, followed by CKD units down the road

TCM? Ok skip. No wonder all not buying their Nissan model. Almera vs City, features wise Almera not bad but people don't want TCM