South Africa can look forward to at least five new Chinese bakkies in the near future.
The market has witnessed the rapid introduction of new brands from the People’s Republic in recent years – many of which are now poised to enter our fiercely competitive double cab landscape.
Two of these brands are JAC and Foton, which already sell bakkies in South Africa and are looking to expand their catalogue with new entries.
There’s also Chery, which has exclusively sold family SUVs up till this point, but is now planning to launch its very first pickup truck.
The other two brands are Changan and Riddara, which have not even launched in South Africa yet, but have confirmed that both of their initial product offerings will include at least one high-rider.
Changan Hunter
Changan is one of China’s “Big Four” state-owned vehicle manufacturers, alongside SAIC, FAW, and Dongfeng.
In March 2025, the automaker announced that it would launch in South Africa before the end of the year with at least four vehicles, one of which is a bakkie called the Hunter.
An interesting fact about the Hunter is that it shares a platform with the Peugeot Landtrek, as the two vehicles were jointly developed by Changan and Peugeot’s parent company, Stellantis.
The Hunter will reportedly use a different engine than the Landtrek, as the latter features a 1.9-litre turbo-diesel plant while the former will receive a 2.0-litre mill.
In China, it is also available as a hybrid, but it remains to be seen whether this version will make it to our shores.
Chery Himla
Next up is the Chery Himla, which made quite the splash when it was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show.
The name “Himla” is a reference to the Himalayas, which is meant to conjure images of a vehicle that can conquer any terrain.
Chery has not divulged the majority of the bakkie’s specifications, but it did confirm it will feature a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine.
The Himla will eventually receive a hybrid and electric model, too, though these units are still in early development.
Foton Tunland V9
The Foton Tunland V9 will be the brand’s second bakkie in South Africa after the G7.
What’s particularly interesting about the V9 is that it will be locally built, as the company confirmed that it is currently expanding its facility in the Eastern Cape to include a new assembly line.
Foton previously stated that it wants to build the G7 here, as well as the “V Series,” almost certainly in reference to the V9 confirmed for our market.
In contrast to the other bakkies in this list, the V9 is a full-size pickup rather than a midsize one.
This means it is more comparable to something like the American Toyota Tundra or Ford F-150, rather than the Hilux and Ranger we have here.
Power is sourced from a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, which produces 120kW and 450Nm.
JAC T9 LTD
JAC recently announced that it will produce a limited-edition version of the T9 Hunter to celebrate its achievements in South Africa.
Earlier this year, the T9 set a national record when it drove 4,084km in 24 hours, working out to an average speed of 170km/h.
To mark the occasion, the carmaker will release 24 uniquely branded T9 4×4 models, offering improved performance and exclusive features.
It is fitted with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel plant, which has an output of 144kW and 487Nm.
JAC also stated that it is finally bringing a plug-in hybrid version of the T9 to South Africa, though no further details have been given thus far.
Riddara RD6
Last but certainly not least is Riddara, which is another new Chinese car brand coming to South Africa this year.
Riddara will launch alongside its parent company Geely with the two brands providing very different vehicles.
Geely will sell upmarket SUVs, while Riddara is set to bring a pickup called the RD6.
The RD6 is an all-electric double cab available in both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations, which determine the power output.
The rear-wheel-drive units have a single electric motor, which generates 200kW and 384Nm.
The all-wheel-drive models, meanwhile, have an e-motor on both axles, resulting in a combined reading of 315kW and 595Nm.
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