Having sold a remarkable 20 000 units in less than 18 months since its return to our market, a resurgent Chery South Africa (Chery SA) was sitting just outside the top 10 best-selling brands list for the new vehicle market year-to-date by the end of September (in 11th spot).
One could attribute the momentum to the introduction of keenly priced, well-specified models in the small and compact crossover segments, but importantly, those product launches have occurred at regular intervals! This week, Chery SA followed up the Tiggo 8 Pro Max (one of the Chinese brand’s 2 finalists in the 2023/24 CarsAwards) with the Tiggo 7 Pro Max and an entry-level Tiggo 4 Pro derivative.
Chery South Africa gave a sneak peek of the Omoda C9 at the Johannesburg Festival of Motoring.
But that’s just a taste of what’s to come in the next year and a half. By mid-2025, Chery SA will have launched 2 models of its other sub-brand, Jaecoo, PHEV variants of its Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro, a new range-topper for its Omoda brand, as well as its first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in Mzansi.
“We can proudly say: ‘This time, Chery is a success in South Africa’ (thanks to) an entirely updated model line-up, but our expectations remain high,” Chunqing Chen, vice president of Chery International and director of Chery SA, said this week. “We’re inspired to pursue even better ways to serve our customers and meet their needs.
“Our product plan for the next 10 years is quite comprehensive (it even includes a bakkie spun from a new scalable platform… eventually), but the highlights of next year will be the introductions of plug-in hybrid derivatives (on Chery’s side) and our expansion of the Omoda and Jaecoo luxury car line-up.”
Chery SA previewed the model that is destined to be the flagship Omoda in South Africa at the recent Johannesburg Festival of Motoring. The C9 is so new that Chery does not even have official photos of the model yet, but then the arrestingly styled coupe-SUV is not so much “new” as a repackaged version of the RX – a product of one of Chery’s other sub-brands, Exeed.
In terms of dimensions, the C9 falls into the German premium brand-dominated executive SUV segment – and it is specified and finished accordingly. The model is reportedly 4 781 mm long, 1 920 mm wide and stands 1 671 mm tall, which makes it 29 mm longer, 2 mm wider and 50 mm taller than a BMW X4.
Apart from its distinctively sculpted sheet metal, the C9 features pop-up door handles and inside, it has a finely stitched leather trim, electrically adjustable heated/cooled seats (with massage function at the front), dual 12.3-inch screens (integrated in a single, curved panel), a 50W wireless charger, a 9-speaker Sony audio system, a panoramic sunroof and more.
The Omoda C9 is powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol motor with 193 kW and 400 Nm that drives either the front- or all wheels (AWD)via an8-speed automatic transmission.
Omoda is but one half of a division that Chery refers to as O&J. The “J” stands for Jaecoo, a portmanteau of “Jae” (a contraction of the German word for hunter Jager) and “cool”. Another upmarket sub-brand, with a striking design language and a high level of technology, one could say that Jaecoo is for Chery, what Haval and Tank are for Great Wall Motor.
Measuring 4 500 mm in length, 1 865 mm in width, 1 680mm in height and with a 2 650-mm wheelbase, the boldly styled, unashamedly blocky Jaecoo 7 is a premium compact crossover. We imagine it is what the Jeep Cherokee would have looked like by now if (then) Fiat Chrysler Automobiles hadn’t made the 4th iteration of that model so darn curvy and, sad to say, indistinct. The Jaecoo 7 is much more macho.
Its grille takes inspiration from Mercedes-AMG’s Panamericana treatment, and it is flanked by slim, technical-looking LED headlamps; the rear styling, by contrast, is Range Rover-esque. The chunky and angular aesthetic continues in the cabin with (ahem) Jeep-style door handles and straight lines perpendicular to each other with a big, portrait-oriented infotainment screen on the fascia.
Under the Jaecoo’s clamshell bonnet is a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine that develops about 140 kW along with 275 Nm of torque. The J7 is likely to be made available in both front- and all-wheel-drive guises in conjunction with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The J7’s bigger brother looks quite imposing too, but its exterior execution is less overtly off-roader-inspired and more akin to that of a conventional luxury SUV. In fact, the Jaecoo J8 is slightly bigger than the Omoda C9 at 4 815 mm in length, 1 924 mm in width and 1 710 mm in height. It also has a 2 800-mm wheelbase, which makes it rather roomy and puts it well and truly in the Executive SUV category.
It looks striking by virtue of its bold grille, full LED lights (fore and aft), contrasting black roof (and pillars), as well as ornate 20-inch wheels. Its luxurious interior, however, is the coup de grace.
The J8’s cabin, which we understand could be available in 2- and 3-row configurations, takes cues from models such as the new Mercedes-Benz GLC, with Nappa leather upholstery, a plush headliner, soft-touch surfaces, polished metallic finishes (including the air vents), electrically adjustable seats, climate control settings for each row, LED ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, a 14-speaker audio system and the latest connectivity features built into the24.6-inch curved infotainment screen/instrument cluster.
Build quality is said to be very impressive indeed and the newcomer’s suite of safety systems reportedly includes 10 airbags, automatic emergency braking, a tyre pressure monitoring system, driver fatigue monitoring, L2.9 advanced driver assistance systems and plenty of other features.
The Jaecoo T8 is powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine, which produces 183 kW/385 Nm, is mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and drives either the vehicles’ front or all wheels (depending on the configuration that will be offered in our market).
Chery SA already has 80 dealers in its sales network. Still, considering the decidedly premium-brand positioning of Omoda&Jaecoo (O&J) products, the local subsidiary of the Chinese brand feels that its dealer footprint needs to expand to meet the expectations of a new, more diverse clientele.
“Omoda&Jaecoo is an important step forward for Chery Group’s globalisation strategy. The consumer market is updating and iterating, and we are keenly aware of the need for more diversified products to meet more market segments,” said Tony Liu, the executive deputy general manager of Chery SA.
“Omoda&Jaecoo (O&J) and Chery focus on different market segments. (Therefore) we are opening more than 30 Omoda dealerships and with Jaecoo joining (Chery SA’s product line-up in due course), the expansion of our dealer network will certainly continue in the next few years,” he added.
Although Toyota South Africa was considering the introduction of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) derivative of its RAV4 late last year, at the time of writing, no manufacturer or importer offered a compact crossover or medium SUV with a PHEV configuration in South Africa.
That situation looks set to change at the very least by the end of next year, however, when PHEV derivatives of the Tiggo 7 Pro 5-seater and Tiggo 8 Pro 7-seater will spearhead Chery’s new-energy vehicle offering in Mzansi. The derivatives’ “e+” power unit utilises a 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine combined with 2 electric motors for a total system output of 180 kW/510 Nm. The 19-kWh hybrid battery component of the power unit is said to offer a pure electric range of a handy 75 km.
It’s been reported that the PHEVs’ 11-speed-ratio direct hybrid transmission sends power to all wheels via the on-demand all-wheel drive system, which offers a choice of no fewer than 9 drive modes.
Chery claims the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV will accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 7.5 sec and be able to travel almost 1 000 km on a full tank and -charge (including the 75 km of pure electric range).
Since the Omoda C5 small coupe crossover made its debut in the South African market earlier this year – watch our video review of the model – it has drawn much attention by virtue of its distinctive design (outside and in-), generous standard specification and sheer boutique appeal. Still, there is not much to distinguish the (for now, standalone) Omoda model from its similarly sized Chery peers, mechanically.
That will change dramatically, however, when the battery-electric version of the Omoda C5 debuts in Mzansi during the first half of 2025. Unveiled in its home market in May, the Omoda E5 is instantly recognisable as a relative of the C5, but the fact that it has a smoothed-out frontal design is telling – there is no need for an oversized grille to supply air to help cool an internal-combustion engine!
Indeed, the Omoda E5 will be Chery SA’s first BEV in the South African market. It is powered by a 150 kW/340 Nm single electric motor (mated with a 61-kWh battery) that drives the vehicle’s front wheels. The Chery Group states that the newcomer can sprint from a standstill to 100 kph in 7.6 seconds.
Apart from the sleeker front end, the Omoda E5 sports elongated and more angular LED daytime running lights, restyled headlights, aero-optimised alloy wheels and simpler (neater) rear bumper garnishes.
Read more: Chery showcases rapid progress in technology
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Omoda C5 Review: A Fancy Chery or Premium Car Contender?
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