Chinese Group Chery Accelerates Rollout of New Models In South Africa

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Chinese auto giant Chery has been ramping up its presence in South Africa over the last couple of years. Chinese vehicles in general are gaining traction in South Africa’s overall new vehicles sales market with Chery Group, when we include sales from Jetour, Jaecoo, and Omoda, as well as Chery itself, now propelling the group’s sales into South Africa’s top 5 in the new vehicle sales charts. There is more action coming in 2026 from the Chery stable. Its new energy vehicle (NEV) brand, iCAUR, recently announced that its dealership rollout strategy ahead of its official entry into the South African market will launch with an initial network of 20 dealerships, with further expansion planned as demand and market opportunities evolve over the next 12 to 24 months. The first phase of the rollout will prioritise establishing a strong national footprint, with dealerships planned across most of South Africa’s provinces.

In preparation for launch, iCAUR says the company has been working on comprehensive parts supply and aftersales support structures being established to support the national dealer network from day one. iCAUR’s dealer network will be supported by centralised technical and after-sales assistance during the early stages of market entry, ensuring continuity and confidence across service operations, along with technical and service training programmes. This is always critical for a new brand, as, over the years, new brands entered the market without this readiness, leaving customers frustrated by long lead times for spare parts and having to deal with service centres that were far away from their location.

iCAUR’s first models will be the V23 and 03T, launching in May. “Launching the V23 and 03T in May alongside a national dealership footprint allows us to deliver a complete iCAUR experience from the outset,” commented Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager for iCAUR South Africa. “Looking ahead, the planned arrival of the 03T REEV towards the end of 2026 reflects our commitment to expanding the range in line with customer expectations and market readiness.”

The iCAUR V27 is also in the mix. Looking at the V27 Range Extender Electric SUV, the V27 has a 34 kWh battery giving 150 km of electric range. It has a 1.5L turbo petrol engine that helps it achieve an overall range of around 900 km per charge and full tank. Dual motors allow it to produce 339 kW total output.

“The iCAUR V27 is more than just another SUV. It’s a bold statement in motion, powered by an advanced range-extender powertrain,” commented Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager at iCAUR South Africa. “It blends rugged capability with smart luxury, from intuitive tech and versatile interiors to thoughtful storage and immersive comfort. With the V27, we’re not just redefining the mid-to-large electrified SUV, but reshaping what adventure and everyday life can look like together.”

Next to arrive will be the iCAUR 03T, a boxy compact electric SUV that features a 69.77kWh battery and offers up to 500 km according to the CLTC. There is a range-extended version that comes with a 34.31 kWh LFP battery giving a combined range of up to 800 km. Vehicle-to-load capability up to 6 kW is also a cool feature of the 03T. This could come in quite handy in case of loadshedding, or for recreational use during camping trips.

Two more brands from Chery Group doing well in South Africa are Omoda and Jaecoo. OMODA & JAECOO South Africa sales have officially surpassed 20,000 total vehicles since launching in the local market in 2023. The brand has now achieved a cumulative sales figure of 20,857 units. Part of this growth has been fueled by growing market interest in electrified mobility. Plug-in hybrid sales from the brands continue to rise, with 590 SHS (Super Hybrid System) models already contributing to overall sales volumes. The J7 SHS, in particular, has shown strong momentum, with 317 units sold since its debut in June 2025. The C9 SHS, which carries a starting price of R999,900, has also performed exceptionally well, recording 218 units sold despite being the most premium offering in the OMODA & JAECOO lineup.

Plug-in hybrids are the hottest thing in South Africa right now in terms of sales growth. Sales of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were up 280% in 2025 compared with sales figures from 2024. That’s because 738 PHEVs were sold in 2024 and 2,808 PHEVs were sold in 2025 in the passenger vehicle segment in South Africa. The overall new vehicles sales market was up 16%, as 596,818 units were sold in South Africa in 2025. That means PHEVs had a market share of 0.47%. Over the past couple of years, plugless traditional hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) had been more popular on the South African market, with very little action on the PHEV side of things, but a shift seems to be starting now, with HEV sales down 6% in 2025. 13,552 HEVs were sold in South Africa in 2024, compared with 12,751 HEVs sold in 2025.

Chery Group brands have been quick to pounce on this growing interest in PHEVs, and as more automakers launch more PHEV models in 2026, it promises to be another good year for PHEVs. Hopefully this will lead to growing interest in the BEV market as well in the near future. Sales of BEVs really need a boost in South Africa, and hopefully once more people are experiencing PHEV life and hopefully driving them more often in electric mode on their daily commutes, they will feel more comfortable switching to full electric soon.