Jaecoo 6T REEV priced from equivalent of RM 107k in Thailand, undercuts BEV sibling by up to 20%

Official pricing for the Jaecoo 6T REEV — related to the iCaur 03 sold in Malaysia — has been announced for the Thailand market. It undercuts the battery electric (BEV) equivalent of the 6T, as reported by Autolife Thailand.

Fully imported from China, the 6T REEV 2WD is priced at THB 879,900 (~RM 107k), while the 6T REEV 4WD goes for THB 979,900 (~RM 120k). These figures represent a special introductory price for the first 1,000 units. After this allocation, prices will revert to THB 899,900 (~RM 110k) for the 2WD and THB 999,900 (~RM 122k) for the 4WD.

Based on the introductory pricing, this puts the range-extended crossover THB 119,100 to THB 219,100 (~RM 15k to RM 27k), or 10.8% to 19.9%, below the 6T EV, which is offered in the Kingdom in a single Long Range 4WD variant priced at THB 1,099,000 (~RM 134k).

Under Thailand's new excise tax structure, the 6T REEV qualifies for the 5% excise tax rate for plug-in hybrids with an electric driving range of at least 80 km. That's three percentage points higher than the 2% rate for BEVs, yet the REEV still undercuts the all-electric 6T EV.

As a refresher, the 6T REEV features a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine serving primarily as a generator for its 33.6-kWh battery pack. The battery in turn powers a rear-mounted electric motor producing 252 PS in the 2WD, while the AWD adds a front-mounted motor generating 177 PS.

With a combined output of 428 PS and 505 Nm of torque, the 4WD completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.5 seconds. The 2WD offers up to 190 km of electric-only range and 800 km of combined range, while the 4WD is rated for 160 km of EV range and 750 km of combined range.

Should the model make its way to Malaysia, most likely as the iCaur 03 (or 03T) REEV, the most viable route would likely be local assembly (CKD). Unlike in Thailand, Malaysia does not offer similar tax incentives for PHEVs, making a fully imported (CBU) model difficult to price competitively.

Local assembly would also help lower the tax burden, allowing Chery to price the model more competitively. 

CKD production should also pose little challenge, as Chery already assembles vehicles at Inokom's Kulim plant and operates a production facility in Shah Alam, where the iCaur 03 is assembled. It is also progressing with its RM2.2 billion Chery Smart Auto Industrial Park in Lembah Beringin, which is set to become the largest of its kind in Malaysia.