The Omoda C5 is set to receive a new hybrid option in South Africa in 2026.
TopAuto recently got in touch with Omoda & Jaecoo South Africa to ask about its thoughts on the state of the industry and its upcoming plans for our market.
One of the questions we asked was if the company had any plans to introduce a new-energy vehicle (NEV) version of the Omoda C5 and Jaecoo J5 in South Africa.
These two models currently serve as the entry points to their respective brands, as both cars start at R339,900.
Last year, Omoda and Jaecoo (O&J) launched the C7 SHS and J7 SHS (Super Hybrid System), adding to a growing roster of NEV options.
However, both of these cars are upmarket products with a price tag of R689,900, raising the question of whether O&J will offer the same treatment for their more affordable models.
The good news is that this does indeed seem to be the case, as Omoda confirmed to TopAuto that a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) version of the C5 is in the pipeline for South Africa.
“We are actively reviewing market requirements and aligning them with technological developments from the factory,” said Hans Greyling, General Manager of Omoda & Jaecoo South Africa.
“Since the launch of the Jaecoo J7 SHS plug-in hybrid, as well as the Omoda C9 SHS, we have been pleasantly surprised by the positive reception of this new technology.”
“We are currently in discussions with the factory regarding the C5 HEV, and if it all goes according to plan, we aim to launch this variant in 2026.”
What to expect
While the C5 HEV has yet to officially receive the green light, we can expect confirmation once Omoda debuts its new products at the 2026 International Auto Show in Beijing.
It’s hard to see why O&J would have any reason to not bring its cheaper NEVs to our market, as its parent company Chery is already doing just that.
The C5’s specifications have yet to be confirmed, but it should be very similar to the Chery Tiggo Cross CSH (Chery Super Hybrid) that launched last year.
The CSH bears the distinction of being South Africa’s cheapest hybrid at a starting price of R439,900, which shows that the Chery Group is interested in exploring this segment.
As a point of reference, the Tiggo Cross hybrid uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a small electric motor, which combine to produce 150kW and 310Nm.
The e-motor, which is powered by a 1.83kWh battery, greatly improves the crossover’s efficiency at low speeds, helping it to achieve a frugal fuel consumption of 5.4l/100km.
As a result, the Chery can travel 1,000km on a single tank.
Prices for the non-hybrid Tiggo Cross start at R359,900, which means that the C5 HEV should hopefully have a similar sticker to the CSH when it arrives in South Africa.
It’s also worth noting that the Jaecoo J5, which is essentially the C5’s twin, could receive the same treatment, but considering the J5 was only introduced in late 2025, it may be a while before the J5 HEV makes an appearance.
Another car on O&J’s upcoming release list is the new C4, which is scheduled to arrive in Mzansi in the latter half of 2026, and is expected to feature both a hybrid and an internal combustion engine powertrain.
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