New car brand opening doors in South Africa this month – What to expect

A new carmaker will officially open its doors to the public in South Africa in less than two weeks.

The Chinese nameplate Jetour has announced that it will make its local debut on Friday, 20 September, 2024, with a starting line-up of two different SUVs.

Big plans for South Africa

Jetour was established in China in 2018 and is one of several brands that fall under the Chery Automotive Group.

Despite this, the new automaker is launching independently in South Africa and has no direct links to Chery South Africa or the “O&J” pair formed by Omoda and Jaecoo.

It first came to light that Jetour was coming to South Africa when a new dealership sprang up in Centurion, Gauteng, bearing the manufacturer’s logo, predating any official announcement from the company.

A representative confirmed that Jetour is entering our market of its own accord and is backed by a holding company from China rather than its parent company Chery.

The manufacturer has evidently been hard at work behind the curtains preparing for its big day, as it recently announced that it has already secured 40 dealerships all over the country and has established its headquarters and training facility at Kyalami in Midrand, Gauteng.

The training centre is already preparing Jetour staff for its after-sale support services in South Africa, which will continue the brand’s global 10-year/1-million kilometre warranty policy on all its vehicles.

To ensure that this ambitious customer service goal is adhered to, the Chinese automaker has also brought in R100 million worth of spare parts, which will be stockpiled at its headquarters so as to avoid lengthy turnaround times for imported components.

“We have the parts inventory ready, our dealer network is committed and onboard, and we are taking every step to ensure that our customers will be as happy and satisfied as possible,” said Nick Campbell, the newly-appointed Vice President for Jetour South Africa.

Jetour dealership in Centurion, Gauteng

What to expect

Jetour’s domestic line-up will begin with two different SUVs, the Dashing and the X70 Plus.

The Dashing is classified as a C-segment crossover, putting it in the same groups as models like the VW T-Roc or Hyundai Kona.

The company has yet to declare the official specifications for either car, but in overseas markets, the Dashing is sold with either a 1.5-litre or 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

These are the same powerplants found in O&J models like the C5 and J7, where the 1.5-litre block produces 115kW and 230Nm, while the larger 1.6-litre unit puts out 145kW and 290Nm.

The X70 Plus is the larger of the two vehicles and is positioned as a midsize SUV comparable to something like the VW Tiguan, Ford Territory, or Toyota Rav4.

It has access to the same drivetrains as the Dashing, and both cars are equipped with a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Jetour T2

These two models are only the start for Jetour, however, as the nameplate already has plans in motion to introduce another two SUVs in 2025 called the T1 and T2.

In contrast to the urban-oriented Dashing and X70, the T-badged units are intended for off-roading with much blockier proportions similar to what’s seen on something like a Jeep or a Land Rover.

The T1 has so far only been showcased as a pre-production model as it has not yet landed in showrooms, neither in China nor anywhere else.

That said, the T2 is already on sale in global markets with a 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol plant pumping out 135kW and 290Nm.

The South African pricing and specifications for each of these four models will be announced closer to their respective launch windows in September 2024 and early 2025.