Weekly wrap-up: Jaecoo J7 launched, KLIMS 2024 theme announced, Malaysia 1H 2024 vehicle sales released, and more

The third week of July 2024 was crucial for the local automotive industry, marked by two important announcements from the Malaysian Automotive Association. It released the theme for the upcoming 10th Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show 2024 and vehicle sales results for the first half of 2024. Another key highlight of the week was the launch of the highly anticipated Jaecoo J7. Several important debuts at the GIIAS 2024 also held the excitement high. 

Here’s a quick recap of the top auto news of the week.

Local news

Jaecoo J7 off-road SUV launched

Chery’s sub-brand Jaecoo has finally launched the much-anticipated J7 SUV in Malaysia. It is offered in two variants – the J7 2WD and and J7 AWD, locally assembled in Shah Alam, Selangor. Sharing platform with the Chery Tiggo 7, the Malaysia-spec J7 comes powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol inline-four cylinder mill which kicks out a maximum power of 194 hp and a peak torque of 290 Nm. Handling the transmission duties is a seven-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Jaecoo J7 2WD is priced at RM 138,800 while the Jaecoo J7 AWD retails for RM 148,800. Included in the price is a 7-year, 150,000-mileage warranty. An attractive offer of a 10-year, one-million km engine warranty is available for early birds.

KLIMS 2024 theme announced

The 10th edition of the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show 2024 will be held from December 5-11 at MITEC. The theme of the event will be “Beyond Mobility,” focusing on sustainability, electrification, and autonomous driving. It will be held in association with MARii (Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute), offering EV makers, vendors, and charging equipment suppliers a platform to showcase their latest innovations. The list of participating brands includes - Perodua, Proton, Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Kia, Mazda, GWM, MG Motor, and GAC.

Malaysia 1H 2024 vehicle sales released

The Malaysian Automotive Association released the vehicle sales report for 1H 2024. A total of 390,296 units were sold during the first six months of the year, which represents a 6.6% increase from the same period in 2023. While the passenger car market grew by 9.2% to 356,859 units, the commercial vehicle sales witnessed a 15.3% decline with 33,437 units. The sales of electric vehicles stood at 6,617 units with a 112% increase over the first half of 2023. According to MAA, the key factors that contributed to the growth include a 4.2% GDP increase in Q1 2024 and an unchanged overnight policy rate of 3% since March 2023.

2024 Porsche Macan EV gains two new variants

Porsche has expanded the lineup of the Macan EV with the introduction of two new variants - the base Macan and the Macan 4S. These join the existing Macan 4 and Macan Turbo. The former is powered by a single rear motor, delivering 340 hp and 563 Nm while the latter has two motors offering a combined output of 448 hp or 820 Nm. Both are mated to a 100 kWh battery pack, offering a range of 641 km and 606 km, respectively. The new Porsche Macan variants are now available for booking in Malaysia, with deliveries expected by the end of 2024. The base Macan price tag reads RM 430,000 while the Macan 4 costs RM 445,000.

Xpeng G6 EV ROI now opens 

Another Chinese carmaker that is ready to set up its shop in Malaysia is Xpeng. The automaker has recently teased the arrival of its first electric car, which is reportedly the G6. It is a  5-seater electric SUV based on the brand’s SEPA 2.0 platform. The EV comes in two battery packs globally, a 66-kWh lithium iron phosphate and an 87.5-kWh nickel manganese cobalt offering a maximum range of up to 755 km (on the CLTC cycle). Interested folks can now register their interests for the upcoming Xpeng G6 on the brand’s official website.

GWM Malaysia to host Tank 300 off-road test drive this weekend

After launching the Tank 300, GWM Malaysia is geared up to host a unique public off-road test drive this weekend at the M4TREC 4WD training and experience centre in Semenyih. The event will allow potential buyers to experience the Tank 300's capabilities firsthand, navigating through custom-designed obstacles and challenges. The off-road SUV is offered in a single CBU variant in Malaysia, equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, a 4WD system, a transparent chassis, crawl control, and a Turn assist. It is priced at RM 250,000.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia teams up with Bomba 

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has teamed up with the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (Bomba) to offer EV emergency training at their Training Academy, located in Puchong, Selangor. The programme titled "Electrification Drive: Fire and Rescue Team Orientation" is aimed at teaching Bomba personnel about EV technology and how to manage EV emergencies in an effective way.

Honda ADV160 gets a colour upgrade

Boon Siew Honda has updated the colour palette for the ADV160. The popular Honda scooter is now available in two new colour options viz. Grey and White. With all specifications remaining the same as earlier, the ADV160 comes equipped with a 156.9-cc eSP+ single-cylinder engine tuned to deliver 15.82 hp of maximum power at 8,500 rpm and 14.7 Nm of peak torque at 6,500 rpm. The 2024 Honda ADV160 retails for RM 13,249 (excluding road tax, insurance or registration).

International news

GIIAS 2024 kicked off in Indonesia

The 2024 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) kicked off with great pomp and show in Jakarta on July 18, 2024. The motor show unveiled several exciting models, some of which are also bound to launch in Malaysia in the coming months. The list includes - MG Cyberster, Volvo EX30, Suzuki eVX EV, new Hyundai Kona EV, new Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Serena e-Power, Mazda CX-60, new Toyota GR Yaris facelift, BYD M6, and Neta X. 

GAC Aion opens EV assembly plant in Thailand

The Chinese automaker GAC Aion has opened an electric vehicle assembly plant at Rayong, Thailand. Notably, this is the brand’s first international facility outside China. At this new plant, the automaker will not only produce EVs for the Thai market but also for other right-hand drive (RHD) markets, including Malaysia. It is spanned across 85,000 square metres and currently has an annual production capacity of 50,000 units. However, the brand aims to expand the capacity to 100,000 cars per year.

Lexus LBX Morizo RR debuts in Japan

The all-new Lexus LBX Morizo RR has made its official debut in the Japanese market as the souped-up version of the LBX. The vehicle is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine generating a maximum power of 304 PS at 6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 400 Nm at 3,250-4,600 rpm. The power is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual enabling the car to hit the century sprint in 5.2 seconds only. It is priced at JPY 6,500,000 (RM 194,191).

All-new Audi A5 breaks cover

Audi has unveiled the all-new 2025 A5, which will replace the current A4 and A5 models. It is the brand’s first ICE-powered model that follows its revised naming convention, representing petrol and diesel cars with odd numbers and electric vehicles with even numbers. Audi will offer the new A5 in two body styles - sedan and wagon with the coupe and convertible being discontinued. The latest model is based on a new platform called the Premium Platform Combustion.

Zeekr 7X EV revealed in China 

Geely-owned Zeekr has pulled the wraps off the all-new Zeekr 7X in China. Said to be an SUV variant of the 007 sedans, it is a 4.8-metre electric crossover rivalling the likes of the Tesla Model Y. It underpins the brand’s PMA2+ platform and comes powered by high-performance silicon carbide motors, supporting both lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium batteries. The EV also features an 800 V electrical architecture offering super-fast charging capabilities. While the driving range of the Zeekr 7X is not yet known, the EV is set to hit Chinese showrooms later this year with a starting price of CNY 240,000 (RM 154,472).

That's all for now. For the latest updates on the automotive industry, keep following Zigwheels Malaysia.

Also read: SUV face-off: Can Chery Tiggo 7 Pro outshine Proton X70?