• The 7-seater SUV could make its Indo debut in Feb 2022
• 2.0-litre TGDI confirmed
• Indonesian plant to be set up next year

Chery will be popping into Malaysia around Q3 2022 but besides us, the Chinese carmaker has its eyes set on another one of our ASEAN neighbours. Months before we published a scoop on its return to Malaysia, Chery hinted on its plans to return to Indonesia via social media.

Since then, the Chery Indonesia social media accounts have been posting news and information about the brand to raise awareness. However, just a week ago, the Anhui-based carmaker announced that it will be one of the exhibitors at the upcoming Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) which will be held from 17-27-February 2022.

That same post featured a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and as reported by Indonesian media, it will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine that makes 254 PS and 390 Nm. This was confirmed by the Managing Director of PT Chery Motor Indonesia, Qin Gang.

Besides the 2.0-litre unit, depending on the market, the Tiggo 8 Pro is also available with a turbocharged 1.6-litre 4-pot (197 PS/290 Nm) and a 1.5-litre mild hybrid unit (156 PS/230 Nm).

Available in either 5-, 6-, or 7-seater configurations, the Tiggo 8 Pro competes with the likes of the Mazda CX-8 and the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. It sits above the X70-rivalling Tiggo 7 Pro and the X50-competing Tiggo 4 Pro in the Tiggo line-up.

Also read: Ahead of Malaysia, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro makes RHD debut in South Africa - Comes with 1 mil km warranty

However, Chery has bigger plans for its return to the market which it had left nearly a decade ago in 2012. In a virtual forum discussion with Indonesian automotive journalists over the weekend, General Secretary of Gaikindo, Kukuh Kumara, revealed that Chery is intending to build a plant in the archipelago.

Also read: Chery returning to Malaysia in Q3 2022 - Jaguar Land Rover tech, rivalling Proton X50 / X70

Granted, that doesn’t mean that Chery is looking to turn Indonesia into a hub for the ASEAN market like Hyundai. Kumara added that the plant will only produce models intended for the domestic market with no export plans, for now.

Also read: Hyundai chooses Indonesia but Kia prefers to do CKD in Malaysia over Thailand, here’s why

If it goes according to plan, this will make Chery the third Chinese carmaker to set up a plant in Indonesia, following Wuling and DFSK. Could Chery make a dent in the Indonesian car market like the former or gather dust like the latter?

Also read: Never arriving in Malaysia? Only 59 units of DFSK Glory i-Auto sold in Indonesia in 2021