The Omoda & Jaecoo brands have FINALLY launched in PH

We thought this day would never come. Sister brands Omoda & Jaecoo (O&J), both under the umbrella of Chery International, have finally and officially launched in the Philippines.

This comes a little over two years after their entry was first announced a little over two years ago, followed by launch dates that never happened, and teasers and previews repeatedly after one another.

Ignoring the several typographical errors in their presentation, the launch is marked by the introduction of three crossover models: the Omoda C5 subcompact and its all-electric E5 variant, as well as the Jaecoo EJ6 compact electric off-road crossover. Previewed was the Jaecoo J7 compact hybrid crossover which is slated to follow soon.

The Omoda C5 was initially revealed at the Auto Guangzhou 2021. It wears Chery’s new Art in Motion design language and features a very modern and aggressive exterior, matched with a sleek cabin filled with the latest comfort and convenience features. 

On the other hand, the fully-electric E5 was unveiled at the Auto Shanghai 2023. It gets a slightly different front fascia, lacking a front grille, and it rides on a different set of 18-inch alloy wheels. O&J also says this has a class-leading drag coefficient of 0.281.

Powering the C5 is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 156 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque, mated to a CVT. This powertrain is shared with the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro. Meanwhile, the E5 gets a single electric motor that produces 204 horsepower and 340 Nm of torque. This is paired to a 61.06 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery which allows for a driving range of an estimated 430 km.

Common standard equipment between the C5 and E5 are LED exterior lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels, sport seats, dual 10.25-inch screens for the driver’s instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system, a wireless phone charger, and a handful of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS).

The Omoda C5 comes in three variants which are as follows, along with their pricing:

• C5 Lifestyle – Php 998,000
• C5 Comfort – Php 1,159,000
• C5 Luxury – Php 1,279,000

The Omoda E5 comes in only one variant, priced at Php 1,649,000 with a black interior. Getting a blue and black interior will cost an additional Php 50,000. 

Moving on to Jaecoo, the EJ6 is the brand’s lone entry for now. Unveiled at the Chengdu Motor Show in 2023 as the iCar 03, this boxy crossover is designed with an outdoor lifestyle in mind. It is also sold as the Chery J6 in Indonesia.

This comes in two variants: RWD Premium and AWD Premium, which are priced at Php 1,649,000 and Php 1,799,000, respectively.

Powering the EJ6 are two electric motor options. The RWD Premium variant gets a single electric motor that produces 186 horsepower and 220 Nm, paired to a 65.69 kWh LFP battery that allows for a driving range of 410 km on a single charge. The AWD Premium gets dual electric motors (front and rear), producing a combined 278 horsepower and 385 Nm, paired to a slightly larger 69.77 kWh LFP battery that allows for a driving range of 421 km on a single charge.

Among its standard features are a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a 12-speaker Infinity sound system.

Buyers of O&J vehicles will be able to take advantage of two kinds of vehicle warranties. Owners of ICE-powered models will enjoy a five-year or 160,000 km general vehicle warranty, while owners of EV-powered models will benefit from a longer eight-year or 200,000 km warranty.

As for its dealership network, O&J Philippines already has six operational dealerships as of this writing. These are located in Pasig, Alabang, and Manila (U.N. Avenue) for Metro Manila; and Sta. Rosa (Laguna), Cebu, and Tagum for provincial dealerships. They aim to have a total of 24 dealerships by the year-end.

With so many new automotive brands entering our market left and right, even getting ahead of Omoda and Jaecoo, did they come at the right time or is it too late? We’ll find out soon.