Chinese brands like Chery, and more recently, GAC Motors, have been lauded for offering among the longest engine warranties of all cars on the market to instill trust in their vehicles.
In the case of Chery, each one of its models is covered by a 10-year/1-million kilometre engine warranty.
In November 2024, GAC Motors, which opened its doors on local soil in August of the same year, launched lifetime engine warranties for its GS3 Emzoom and Emkoo SUVs.
While these extended after-sales agreements are valuable for inspiring confidence, they come with one important caveat potential clientele must be aware of – they are only valid for the original owner of the vehicle.
This means that they are unlikely to bolster after-sales value once the first buyer lets go of the car.
Additionally, buyers of pre-owned Chery or GAC vehicles will not be able to enjoy the lengthy protection against engine defects.
A statement from an official Chery dealer reads: “The warranty protects your Chery engine against any manufacturing defects or unforeseen failures for a remarkable 1,000,000 kilometres or 10 years, whichever comes first. This warranty is exclusive to the original owner of the Chery vehicle.”
GAC’s Ts and Cs are: “To keep the warranty intact, vehicle service and repairs must be conducted at GAC Motor authorised service centres and using approved parts. This is standard practice in the industry, ensuring you get nothing but the best of the brand quality. This offer is valid for the vehicle’s first owner and requires a traceable service history recorded within the authorized GAC Motor service centres.”
That said, these lengthy warranties are a massive boon for first-time buyers who plan to keep their vehicles for a decent amount of time as they offer extra peace of mind and plenty of saved pennies.
Chinese automakers take South Africa by storm
Asian nameplates like Chery have enjoyed tremendous success in South Africa since its re-entry into the country several years ago, with the astounding engine warranty a likely contributor to the fame.
In fact, it regularly sits within the top 10 best-selling brands, beating well-established manufacturers such as Renault, Kia, Mahindra, and Nissan.
The rise to stardom can be attributed to two main factors – variety and price.
Chery has multiple sub-brands in South Africa covering a wide spectrum of segments and budgets.
It introduced its Omoda and Jaecoo subsidiaries to the country in recent years, the former focused on luxury crossovers and SUVs while the latter caters more to the adventurous crowd.
Meanwhile, Chery itself corners the mass market with its range of Tiggo Pro SUVs – all of which are competitively priced in their segments.
Chery’s window stickers are a big part of its appeal, as it has pulled buyers away from legacy nameplates like Mercedes-Benz and VW.
Illustrating this point is the fact that local firm Combined Motor Holdings has managed to build a highly successful dealership network in South Africa as the primary distributor for Haval, Chery, and Suzuki – all of which are incredibly popular right now.
Furthermore, Standard Bank noted that finance arrangements for Chinese cars have consistently increased since 2022 amid an overall depression in new-car sales, with Chery playing a big role on this market shift.
“Even though Chinese brands currently represent less than 10% of our retail sales, their upward trajectory is remarkable given the challenging market conditions,” said Derick De Vries, Head of Automotive Retail at Standard Bank Vehicle and Asset Finance.
“These brands are clearly gaining significant traction, reflecting the broader global trend where Chinese vehicles are taking more market share, driven by competitive pricing and growing consumer confidence.”
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