New Chinese bakkie coming to South Africa – What to expect

JMC has announced that the Vigus bakkie will arrive this November, marking the brand’s return to South Africa.

For those who are not aware, JMC ( Jiangling Motors Corporation) is a Chinese automaker that used to operate in South Africa but quietly ceased operations a few years ago due to low sales.

However, the company made an announcement in July that it would relaunch in our market before the end of the year with a selection of light and heavy commercial vehicles, including two new bakkies.

One of these is the Vigus, which was previously offered in South Africa but has seen a fairly substantial makeover for its reintroduction.

An affordable pickup primarily designed for commercial fleets, the Vigus will initially be limited to its single cab form, though the company confirmed that the double cab units will arrive shortly thereafter in early 2026.

Interestingly, JMC has already announced the target price for the incoming high-rider.

The carmaker stated that it aims to compete in the sub-R350,000 bracket, where there is strong demand for reliable workhorses.

Consequently, JMC is looking at a starting price of R300,000 for the Vigus, though this will only be confirmed upon its release in November.

What to expect

The Vigus will be powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine sourced from Ford.

While that may sound a bit random, it’s worth remembering that Ford and JMC have a strategic partnership, and that this is the same relationship that gave us the Ford Territory SUV.

Back to the Vigus, you can expect a total of 103kW and 310Nm from the Blue Oval’s powertrain, which will be transmitted to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.

It remains to be seen whether an automatic shifter and a four-wheel-drive option will be added at a later date, but it’s unlikely given that the bakkie is meant to be an entry-level workhorse.

JMC also stated it has ” solid towing capability” but didn’t provide an actual figure.

If it does stick to its target price tag of R300,000, it’ll be the fifth cheapest single cab in the country after the Ashok Leyland, Suzuki Super Carry, Mahindra Bolero, and the Mahindra Pik Up.

JMC’s vehicles will be locally distributed by Salvador Caetano Auto South Africa.

“Partnering with JMC aligns perfectly with our vision of bringing trusted, high-performance mobility solutions to the South African market,” said 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.”