Chery plans to greatly expand its presence in South Africa with the launch of two new car brands – Lepas and iCaur.
The Chinese company made its debut in 2021 and has rapidly climbed through the ranks to become one of the nation’s top-selling automakers, selling thousands of units every month.
Capitalizing on this success, Chery has introduced multiple sub-brands within the past two years, starting with Omoda and Jaecoo.
Omoda first appeared in 2023, while Jaecoo arrived one year later in 2024.
The two companies form what is often referred to as “O&J” – a brand that serves as a luxury alternative to Chery’s Tiggo Pro family of SUVs.
Later in September 2024, South Africa received another Chery-affiliated car brand known as Jetour, which produces its own range of urban and off-road themed SUVs.
It appears that this was not enough to satisfy Chery’s ambitions, however, as the carmaker plans to add another two names to its roster in 2026.
Lepas
Lepas (a combination of the words “leap” and “passion”) is a new car brand that made its international debut at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show.
Its initial product lineup consists of three cars – the L4, L6, and L8 – two of which have officially gone into production.
More specifically, the L4 and L8 are now in production and have been confirmed for a South African release in the first quarter of 2026.
The company has yet to disclose the official specifications for either car, but they appear to share a platform with Chery’s Tiggo Pro models.
The Lepas L4 is seemingly based on the Tiggo Cross, while the L8 has a lot in common with the Tiggo 8 Pro.
The Lepas models have a sleeker appearance than their Chery counterparts, which is meant to convey the idea that they are the upmarket alternative.
Lepas stated that their cars follow a “leopard aesthetic” with a curved body and slim LED headlights meant to resemble a feline’s eyes.
The engine selection is unconfirmed, but it’s fair to assume that all its cars will be offered with hybrid powertrains, as nearly all Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo cars in South Africa already have this option.
iCaur
iCaur is Chery’s new-energy division, specializing in electric vehicles (EVs) aimed at younger audiences.
It is actually known as iCar in China, but the company recently announced that it would change its name to iCaur for our market, presumably owing to copyright concerns.
In any case, iCaur is scheduled to reach South Africa in the first quarter of 2026, bringing two new vehicles along with it.
The first of these is the 03, an electric SUV that has been in the pipeline for some time.
The 03 was originally going to launch in South Africa as the Jaecoo J6, as Chery originally planned to sell iCaur under Jaecoo to simplify its vehicle lineup.
However, the carmaker ultimately decided that iCaur was different enough to warrant an official introduction.
Consequently, the EV maker will receive its own dealership network, and the 03 will come to South Africa under its original name.
In China, the vehicle is sold with two different electric motor choices.
The base models are equipped with a single, front-mounted e-motor that produces 125kW and 220Nm.
Alternatively, there’s a dual-motor option with an all-wheel-drive system, which puts out a total of 205kW and 385Nm.
It also has three different batteries, which determine the SUV’s range:
- 50.63kWh – 400km
- 66kWh – 472km
- 70kWh – 500km
The second model lined up for South Africa is the V23, which is the more off-road focused of the two EVs.
It also has a unique selling point in that it is available as either a bakkie or an SUV.
The bakkie version of the V23 sacrifices the boot in favour of a small but deep load bed with integrated mounting points for accessories.
Like the 03, the V23 has single and dual-motor drivetrain options that generate 100kW and 155kW, respectively.
The base models use a 59.9kWh battery with 400km on tap, while the top-end units have a larger 81.8kWh cell with 550km.
More information on Lepas and iCaur, including their full vehicle selection and price lists, will be revealed closer to their launch window in early 2026.
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