China’s carmakers are continuing their rollout onto the South African market at a rapid pace, as there are at least five new cars confirmed to be launching here before the end of 2023.
The BRICS member currently has six manufacturers on the tip of Africa, consisting of BAIC, Chery, Haval, GWM, JAC, and Omoda – a roster that is set to get bigger within the next year with the arrival of Jaecoo and its first SUV, the J7.
What’s in store
For those who are not aware, Jaecoo and Omoda are both subsidiaries of the Chery group and are colloquially referred to as the “O&J” brand, with the former concentrating on luxury 4x4s while the latter is committed to high-tech crossovers.
While Jaecoo is only set to arrive in 2024, Omoda had its own recent news story with the reveal of the new C9 crossover, which should make its South African debut in November. The company is also investigating the introduction of hybrid and battery-electric versions of the C5, though it has not provided a timeline for this.
Not to be overshadowed by its subsidiaries, Chery displayed two upcoming models at this year’s Festival of Motoring, including a more affordable Tiggo 4 Pro and a flagship entry for its Tiggo 7 Pro range.
Looking at GWM, it, too, has a busy schedule these coming months with the long-awaited debut of the Ora, one of the most affordable electric cars in the country.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, GWM is also planning to have the Tank 300 in showrooms very soon – the first SUV to come from its dedicated Tank 4×4 division. This should then be followed up with the appearance of the larger Tank 500 in 2024.
Finally, there’s JAC, which is on track to launch the new T9 bakkie with a variety of powertrains, including plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric units.
The electrified options are only expected to debut in 2024, but locals can still look forward to a set of turbocharged petrol and diesel double cabs that will arrive before the year is out.
It’s also worth mentioning that BAIC unveiled its B80 SUV at the 2022 Festival of Motoring with a to-be-confirmed price point of R1.1 million, but more than a year has passed since then with no update from the carmaker.
Incoming models
These are all of the Chinese cars that have been confirmed to be launching in South Africa before the end of the year, bearing in mind that a model could be delayed at short notice.
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max
- Starting price – To be announced
Omoda C9
- Starting price – To be announced
GWM Ora
- Starting price – R716,900
GWM Tank 300
- Starting price – R685,000
JAC T9
- Starting price – To be announced
Keyword: Every Chinese car coming to South Africa before the end of the year