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Thursday / 6 February 2025
HomeFeaturesThe next Chinese car brand coming to South Africa

The next Chinese car brand coming to South Africa

A new Chinese car brand recently touched down in South Africa and is currently preparing to launch its first car very soon.

The marque in question is Dongfeng, which is set to become the latest addition to the country’s growing list of automakers from the People’s Republic.

Adding to the list

Dongfeng (pronounced “Dong Fong”) is one of China’s largest state-owned automakers, alongside the FAW Group, Changan Automobile, and SAIC Motor.

While the company’s roots date back all the way to 1969 as a commercial vehicle contractor for the Chinese military, its modern lineup is nothing of the sort; instead focusing on a range of fully-electric models similar to BYD.

Case in point is the first car that the manufacturer is planning to release here, simply titled the Box.

The Box (known as the Nammi 01 in China) is expected to arrive in “early 2025” which likely means we will get our hands on it within the next few months.

It’s a hatchback measuring 4,030mm (L) by 1,180mm (W) by 1,570mm (H), giving it similar proportions to a B-segment vehicle like a VW Polo.

Power is sourced from a front-mounted electric motor, which connects to a 32.3kWh battery to generate a total of 70kW and 160Nm.

In practice, this allows the Dongfeng to reach a top speed of 140km/h, and travel for up to 430km before needing to recharge.

Speaking of, the electric vehicle (EV) can support both a 6.6kW AC plug and an 88kW DC fast cable – the latter of which can provide an 80% charge and 200km of range in just 30 minutes.

Its local spec sheet will only be confirmed closer to release, but a look at the models sold overseas suggests we can expect goodies like two-tone artificial leather seats with heating, a wireless charger, automatic climate control, ambient lighting, a 12.8-inch floating infotainment screen, a digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a 360-degree camera.

The Box’s size and specifications indicate that it will likely be one of the most affordable EVs in the country, joining Chinese rivals like the R399,900 Dayun Yuehu S5 and R539,900 BYD Dolphin.

The biggest challenger, however, may be the upcoming BYD Dolphin Mini, which could retail for as little as R350,000 when it appears in showrooms.

Dongfeng also plans to release another two vehicles in South Africa this year, but has not yet announced which models we’ll be getting.

It’s worth mentioning that Dongfeng, much like Chery or GWM, has multiple sub-brands under its wing, including Voyah and M-Hero.

Voyah is its luxury division, similar to Chery’s Omoda or Toyota’s Lexus, while M-Hero is dedicated to high-end 4x4s, which could become a competitor to the likes of GWM’s Tank units.

Two other subsidiaries, Nammi and Aeolus, were merged with their parent company in 2023 to consolidate the manufacturer’s products under one brand.

Depending on how Dongfeng performs in South Africa, it’s possible that these additional brands may be launched here as well, adding even more Chinese names to an ever-expanding list of local sellers.

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