The Chinese automaker Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC) is set to return to South Africa later this year.
JMC made its South African debut back in 2007 and catered to both the commercial and passenger markets with bakkies and SUVs like the Vigus and Landwind, which were some of the most affordable models in their respective segments.
Even so, interest in the brand waned going into the 2020s, leading to JMC’s quiet exit from the market.
However, the carmaker has announced that it is ready to take another crack at our auto scene, as it will relaunch in South Africa later this year.
To do so, JMC has partnered with the Salvador Caetano Group, which will serve as the local distributor for its vehicles.
If that name sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because this is the same distributor used by another Chinese carmaker in South Africa, GAC Motor.
“Salvador Caetano Auto South Africa, a subsidiary of the globally recognised Salvador Caetano Group, is taking a significant step in expanding its footprint in the local automotive market through a strategic partnership with JMC, a leading Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer,” said the company.
“Partnering with JMC aligns perfectly with our vision of bringing trusted, high-performance mobility solutions to the South African market,” Leslie Ramsoomar, Managing Director at Salvador Caetano South Africa.
“We’re proud to represent a brand that shares our commitment to reliability, innovation, and customer-focused service, delivering value to both lifestyle and commercial vehicle customers across the country.”
What to expect
JMC revealed that South Africa can expect at least four new vehicles as part of the brand’s initial product offering.
The first is the Vigus bakkie, which will return to our market in both its current and next-generation forms.
The company explained that it will launch the current-gen Vigus in 2025, after which we can expect the new models to appear in early 2026.
It’s currently unclear whether the current-gen models will stick around once the new version is introduced, or if the older pickup is simply meant to plug a gap in the lineup until the new one arrives.
The former seems more likely, given that it would be fairly unusual to sell a car for just a few months.
It’s also worth noting that other companies, such as Chery, have gotten into the habit of keeping their older cars when introducing the new ones to keep prices affordable for consumers.
Another example is Isuzu, which still makes the previous-gen D-Max for the same reason.
As a reminder, the old Vigus is fitted with a 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine, which produces 103kW and 310Nm.
The new version, which will be offered as both a single and double cab, has a larger 2.5-litre turbo-diesel block with 140kW and 315Nm.
The next product confirmed for South Africa is another bakkie called the Grand Avenue, which will slot above the Vigus.
The Grand Avenue is 5,450mm in length, 1,935mm in width, and 1,872mm in height, with a wheelbase measuring 3,270mm.
These proportions are almost identical to those of the Ford Ranger, which is no coincidence as Ford is officially partnered with JMC in China.
Foreign automakers are required to partner with local firms to sell their cars in China, which is why companies like Ford and VW have close ties to JMC and SAIC, respectively.
This is the partnership that brought us the Ford Territory SUV, and it’s the same reason why the JMC Grand Avenue shares a lot of its design with the Ford Ranger.
In China, the Grand Avenue is sold with a 2.3-litre petrol or diesel engine, both of which are sourced from Ford.
The petrol plant generates 180kW and 400Nm, while the diesel puts out 130kW and 450Nm.
It’s also offered with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and as a rear-wheel or four-wheel-drive model.
The last vehicle lined up for us is a commercial truck called the Carrying Plus, which is available as both a ‘van’ with an enclosed storage area and a heavy-duty pickup with a large load bed.
More information on JMC and its vehicles will be revealed closer to the brand’s re-entry in South Africa later in 2025.
JMC Grand Avenue
JMC Vigus
JMC Carrying Plus
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