EXCLUSIVE: Upcoming Omoda 5 crossover may have mild-hybrid variant in the Philippines

The Omoda 5 crossover is the most prominent of all the models that Omoda and Jaecoo Philippines will launch near the end of 2023.

It had first been unveiled at Auto Guangzhou 2021, with production starting on February 2022. Outside of China, it was launched in Indonesia on February 2023.

Omoda and Jaecoo Philippines country director Marco Chen told AutoFun Philippines that a mild-hybrid model may be part of the local Omoda 5 lineup, alongside non-hybrid and battery-electric vehicle (EV) variants.

“We are trying our best to just bring all our new-energy models,” he told AutoFun Philippines in an exclusive interview following the media preview event.

“For example, the Omoda 5, we have mild-hybrid, we have the EV and we also have the pure gasoline,” he said. “So we’re trying to just bring the mild-hybrid and the EV because, as you know, in Manila, there’s a coding problem.”

Under Republic Act 11697 or the “Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act,” electrified vehicles are exempted from Metro Manila’s number-coding scheme, among other non-financial incentives.

Multiple powertrains

The Omoda 5 is available with a wide range of engines in other markets, along with optional all-wheel drive.

There is the 290T that comes with a turbocharged 1.6-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine. It pumps out 200 PS and 290 Nm of torque, which are coursed through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

But in light of huge financial incentives for imported Chinese cars that are 1500cc and below, the Philippines will most likely get the 230T variant. This has a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 with 156 PS and 230 Nm of torque that is mated to a continuously variable transmission.

As of press time, there is no official information yet on the mild-hybrid system that will be used for the Omoda 5.

Finally, the Omoda 5 EV has a 61-kWh battery pack and an electric motor. This has a combined output of 224 PS.

Cheaper to go electric

Chen said the company is hoping to get the cheapest Omoda 5 to start under ₱1.5 million, at least for the non-hybrid model.

“With a price above ₱1.5 million, it cannot get good sales,” he said at the media preview event forum. “We will try our best to make the price under ₱1.5 million. That is our price position.”

Chen told AutoFun Philippines that electrified models can get big financial incentives.

“Normally, if it’s hybrid, you get 50 percent off of the commercial tax,” he said.

The Omoda 5 EV also qualifies for incentives under Executive Order 12 that was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on January 2023. This lifts duties on imported EVs and spare parts until 2028.

Would you go for the Omoda 5 if it were a mild-hybrid model?

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