Jaecoo J7 PHEV ROI Now Open - 1,200KM Range, Q4 2024 Launch?

Chery Auto Malaysia has long teased plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to its range of offerings. Now, it's official - the group's first PHEV will debut under the Jaecoo brand, based on the highly popular J7 model.

This announcement was made on Jaecoo Malaysia social media pages, along with a call to register interest for those eager to be among the first in the loop. This suggests the J7 PHEV will likely launch before year’s end.

An interesting point to watch is whether the J7 PHEV will be locally assembled (CKD) in Malaysia, like the non-PHEV variant. CKD would likely reduce taxes and enable more competitive pricing. If this happens, Jaecoo's CKD operations will likely expand to accommodate not only the current J7 but also the J7 PHEV and the recently previewed Omoda C9.

While the J7 PHEV closely resembles the J7 already on Malaysian roads, it will swap the J7's conventional 197 HP 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol lump for a 1.5L turbo mill instead that’s paired with a hybrid-specific transmission and a front-mounted hybrid e-motor. This setup is said to deliver a combined 342 HP and 525 NM of torque.

Additionally, the J7 PHEV will offer an all-electric driving range of 88 KM, thanks to its large 18.3 kWh battery. With a 6a0-liter fuel tank, the total hybrid driving range exceeds 1,200 KM, with a WLTP-rated fuel economy of 5.2 litres/100 km.

One notable feature is the vehicle's ability to fast-charge using DC chargers. Charging from 30% to 80% takes just 20 minutes, and the model also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability.

For those interested, be sure to register your interest online by clicking these blue words. It will be exciting to see how Jaecoo Malaysia positions the J7 PHEV in terms of pricing, especially considering the current J7 is priced at RM138,800 (2WD) and  RM148,800 (4WD).