The BAIC B80 is still in planning for a local launch, though no introduction date has been set in stone.
The Chinese Mercedes G-Wagen lookalike was first announced for South Africa all the way back in August 2022, with BAIC proudly displaying it at that year’s Festival of Motoring with all its specifications and features in detail.
At the time, it said the 4×4 would reach domestic showrooms by no later than October 2022 at a starting price of around R1.1 million.
However, October came and went with no B80 to speak of, with many expecting that it would subsequently launch in 2023 as it’s certainly not unusual for car manufacturers to miss self-imposed deadlines.
The entire 2023 and first months of 2024 went by with no word from BAIC on its new off-roader; so we decided to reach out and ask if the B80 is still on its way.
“With regard to the B80, rest assured it is in the pipeline to arrive in South Africa, but at this stage, BAIC South Africa cannot commit to exact timings,” said a BAIC spokesperson in response to queries from TopAuto.
The spokesperson did not divulge the exact reason for the hold-up, stating that the company is “still in the process of refining the South African launch plan” and “will communicate once we have received confirmation on this.”
The market for Chinese 4x4s is starting to heat up in South Africa with GWM recently debuting its new Tank 300, as well as Chery launching its Jaecoo sub-brand which is focused on producing “rugged luxury” SUVs.
It could therefore be a missed opportunity if the B80 does not make a local appearance. The G-Wagen has garnered a cult-like following over the years and there are sure to be a decent amount of local motorists who would jump at the chance to own something similar at a more reasonable price point.
X55 facelift on the horizon
While the B80 isn’t on the cards in the near future, BAIC confirmed that its short-term plans for the South African market include the introduction of the facelifted X55.
The first X55 launched in November 2022 with a quirky look, generous specifications, and a competitive starting price that saw it become BAIC’s best-selling model in the domestic market near instantly.
The automaker did not reveal what it has in store for the updated crossover, though it is safe to say that we can expect it to feature light design changes and an updated feature set. More than likely, it will also have a slightly higher window sticker.
The local debut of the new X55 will be happening at the 2024 Festival of Motoring during the last weekend of August, said BAIC, and it will go on sale to the public shortly thereafter.
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