Chinese auto giant Chery has confirmed that it will manufacture the Jaecoo J5 crossover SUV at its first South African plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria – which it acquired from Nissan earlier this year.
This was confirmed during the official opening of the facility earlier today, 3 July 2026, with the event and announcement marking an important step in Omoda & Jaecoo’s local expansion.
The crossover has been on sale locally since September last year, and has since established itself as an important model for the brand in South Africa.
“The Jaecoo J5 speaks directly to the needs of South African motorists,” says Hans Greyling, General Manager for Omoda & Jaecoo and iCaur South Africa.
“It offers the practicality, technology and versatility customers expect from a modern crossover, while the addition of NEV models gives buyers more choice as the market continues to evolve.”
This announcement confirmed that the J5 will be produced in South Africa in both internal combustion (ICE) and new energy (NEV) forms.
Omoda & Jaecoo South Africa confirmed that the inclusion of the crossover in its local production line-up reflects the brand’s confidence in the market.
Since its local launch last year, the Jaecoo J5 has recorded 2,630 sales, mirroring successes in other global markets.
According to Chery, the J5 BEV topped SUV registrations in Thailand for six consecutive months from November 2025 to April 2026, while in Indonesia, nearly 14,000 units were sold from January to May 2026.
In May, the crossover ranked among Indonesia’s top five best-selling vehicles and took the top spot in electric vehicle (EV) sales.
That same month, the Jaecoo J5 BEV became the second best-selling electric vehicle in Australia – a market that closely resembles our own.
Jaecoo J5 NEV options expected in South Africa soon
Earlier this year, Omoda & Jaecoo South Africa confirmed that two new J5 models would arrive locally next month.
At the time, the Chinese badge confirmed the imminent introduction of SHS (Super Hybrid System) and BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) versions of the J5.
“The imminent arrival of the J5 SHS and J5 BEV marks an exciting new chapter for our brand in South Africa,” said Shannon Gahagan, the brand’s local National Brand and Marketing Manager.
“With the J5 now available in ICE, hybrid and fully electric form, the range is better positioned than ever to meet the varied needs of local motorists.”
“Importantly, these new models allow us to bring a more premium-feeling ownership experience into the affordable electrified space, offering customers advanced technology, strong efficiency and generous specification without losing sight of value.”
The SHS variant pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a small electric motor, a 1.83kWh battery, and a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT).
Combined, these produce 165kW and 295Nm, making the J5 SHS significantly more powerful than the standard ICE models.
Despite this, it still achieves a respectable claimed average fuel consumption of only 5.3l/100km, enabling a range of over 900km on a single tank.
The second NEV option, the J5 BEV, will be Omoda & Jaecoo’s first EV in South Africa and will feature a single front-mounted e-motor producing 155kW and 288Nm.
It will make use of a 58.9kWh battery that can be recharged from 30% to 80% in 28 minutes using a DC fast charger, and while the brand is yet to confirm its range, models sold in Australia boast a WLTP range of around 400km.
It also remains to be seen whether Chery opts to expand its local production to more models across the many brands in its stable.
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