Omoda has big plans for South Africa, as it wants to launch at least five new cars here within the next year.
The company recently invited the media to the 2024 Beijing Auto Show where it explained its incoming line-up including the new C3, C7, and C9, as well as two more products based on the C5 already sold here, namely a new entry-level specification and the all-electric variant, the E5.
Rapid expansion
Omoda, for those who are unfamiliar, is a relatively new brand under the Chery umbrella that opened shop in South Africa in April 2023 with a single crossover called the C5.
The C5 initially went on sale with three models fitted with a 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol plant, but this was later expanded upon with two new mid-range options and a flagship GT unit with a more powerful 1.6-litre engine.
Adding to this, the company has confirmed that a more affordable trim level is now on the cards for South Africa, though the release date is yet to be disclosed.
As a reference, the crossover currently retails for a minimum of R447,900, so expect a price tag south of this figure when it arrives.
The other C5 variant is the battery-electric E5, which is built on the same platform and is arriving in the second half of this year.
It runs on a front-mounted electric motor providing 150kW and 340Nm, which is powered by a 61kWh battery.
It has a range of 450km and can achieve an 80% top-up in 40 minutes with a fast charger.
The other three models penned in for South Africa are entirely new, comprising the C3, C7, and C9, according to The Citizen’s Pitstop Podcast.
As the numerical naming scheme suggests, the C3 is the smallest car in the Omoda family and is aimed at younger buyers.
The vehicle itself is yet to be officially unveiled, but pre-production images on Chinese publication Autohome indicate that the C3 is likely based on the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro as it is near-identical in terms of shape and size.
The photos even show Chery badges on the grille, wheel caps, and steering wheel, but it’s in the cabin where it starts to differentiate itself as the touchscreen and centre console are more reminiscent of the ones seen on the C5 and the seats boast a flashy two-tone blue-and-white appearance.
No powertrain details have been revealed, but it’s likely that the C3 is sourcing its engines from the Tiggo family with the 4 Pro’s 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol unit (108kW/210Nm) and six-speed dual-clutch gearbox being a strong contender.
Omoda using another car from the Chery family as its starting point is not unprecedented either, as this is the case with a different model coming to South Africa – the C9.
The C9 is based on the Exeed RX and will be positioned as the brand’s flagship vehicle in South Africa when it arrives later this year.
It runs on a 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol plant with 197kW and 400Nm, which is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Finally, there’s the C7, which is another product that has yet to go on sale anywhere in the world.
It will debut in South Africa in 2025 and is positioned between the C5 and C9, though there’s a catch.
The C7 is being made exclusively as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model, using the same 1.5-litre petrol engine as the C5.
The Chinese carmaker has yet to detail the specifications of the drivetrain’s electrical components, but did say that the crossover can travel for 95km on the battery and has a combined range of 1,200km.
Join the discussion