Omoda is planning to expand its roster in South Africa with three new vehicles, which will arrive over the course of the next year and a half.
This includes the all-electric E5, the flagship C9, and the C7 – the latter of which was only just unveiled at the 2024 Beijing Motor Show.
The company confirmed to TopAuto that both the E5 and the C9 will be launching in South Africa later this year.
It also stated that the C7 will be coming to South Africa and that, whilst it doesn’t have a confirmed date at the moment, it is expected to arrive locally in 2025.
E5
Starting with the E5, this is the battery-electric version of the C5 crossover which is the only Omoda currently available in South Africa.
The vehicle was designed with electrification in mind from the start, so the E5 did not have to undergo any radical changes to accommodate the alternate drivetrain.
It uses a front-mounted e-motor that generates 150kW and 340Nm, in comparison to the 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol C5’s 115kW and 230Nm.
Current is supplied by a 61kWh battery, which affords a driving range of 450km and can achieve an 80% recharge in 40 minutes.
The E5 is also expected to share much of the same equipment as its petrol counterpart, entailing items like adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitors, a sunroof, an electric tailgate, ventilated leather Sports seats, ambient lighting, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Sony stereo, a 50W wireless charger, and two 10.25-inch screens.
C9
The C9 is an odd case, as it was first revealed at the Festival of Motoring in August 2023 where it was stated that the car would launch in South Africa in November that year.
However, there have been no updates since then and the C9 is still not available locally five months into 2024, but Chery (Omoda’s parent company) finally confirmed that the C9 is definitely still coming to our shores.
While it is intended to be the flagship of the Omoda brand in South Africa, the C9 is not an Omoda original, as it is actually a rebadged model from one of Chery’s other sub-brands, Exeed.
The Chinese carmaker confirmed to TopAuto in March that it would be bringing models from its other brands to South Africa, but that they would fall under one of its three local divisions – Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo.
Jaecoo, for its part, is getting the electric iCar models while Omoda is putting its name on Exeed products, starting with the RX, which will be sold as the C9 locally.
The C9 uses a 2.0-litre, turbocharged petrol engine with 197kW and 400Nm, which connects to either the front or all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The company also plans to launch a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the C9, but no details have been provided on this powertrain thus far.
The Exeed RX will be sold as the Omoda C9 in South Africa.
C7
The final Omoda heading to our shores is the new C7, which as its name suggests, will function as the mid-range option between the C5 and C9.
Only a few details were announced at the Beijing Motor Show, starting with the fact that the C7 features a 1.5-litre PHEV power source.
The 1.5-litre engine is the same one found in the C5 that produces 115kW and 230Nm without electrical assistance, which is likely to be noticeably higher once e-motors are thrown into the mix. The PHEV will also be able to travel for 95km on just the battery alone, according to Carscoops.
This particular Omoda is 4,621mm long, 1,872mm wide, and 1,673mm, making it comparable to midsize SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 or Ford Territory, and offers a choice of a conventional five-seater or a four-seater layout.
The interior features a 15.6-inch infotainment screen, a digital driver display, and luxuries like a wireless charger, climate control, and a 12-speaker stereo with two extra speakers in the driver’s headrest for phone calls.
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