Jaecoo J5 EV confirmed for Malaysia - 461 km range, HR-V/X50 competitor set to launch soon?

The Jaecoo J5 EV as teased on social media

The Jaecoo J5 EV has been confirmed to launch in Malaysia's burgeoning electric vehicle market, as confirmed by the brand's social media pages moments ago.

Targeting mainstream B-segment SUVs like the Honda HR-V and Proton X50, the J5 EV is essentially the same size as the hybrid J5 - just with a different powertrain.

Australia spec J5 EV pictured

Though local specifications are yet to be confirmed, indicative numbers from neighbouring markets like Thailand and Indonesia get theirs in single-motor (FWD) guise, good enough for 211 PS and 288 Nm of torque.

Juiced by a 58.9 kWh battery pack, it yields a 461 km NEDC range (approx. 400 km WLTP), and it accepts DC fast charging speeds of up to 130 kW. That's good enough for a 30% to 80% charge in just 28 minutes.

Like most other Chinese cars these days, a screen-heavy interior is par for the course. There's a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment sitting in the middle of the cabin, while indicative specs from neighbouring markets show a standard package of an 8-speaker setup, 65-colour ambient lighting, and an integrated powered sunshade.

Active safety is handled via an Advanced Driver Assistance System package that bundles 17 individual safety functions, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot monitoring. Passive safety is reinforced by a standard six-airbag layout.

Local pricing is still anyone's guess, though for comparison, the Jaecoo J5 PHEV starts from RM 108,000 here. It wouldn't be too wild of a guess to peg prices of the J5 EV to hover around the RM 120,000 mark.