Features / 5 January 2026 / Michael Taylor

3 new Chinese bakkies coming to South Africa

At least three new Chinese bakkies are already confirmed for South Africa in 2026.

Last year saw the introduction of no less than 15 pickups from various manufacturers, including legacy brands like Isuzu, Nissan, Toyota, and VW.

However, the lion’s share of new models that entered South Africa’s bakkie market in 2025 came from Chinese badges.

These companies don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, as JMC, JAC, and Chery have all confirmed that they have a new bakkie in store for our market this year.

JMC (Jiangling Motors Corporation) is a name that should be familiar to enthusiasts, as the company debuted in South Africa back in 2007.

The company quietly pulled out of our market a few years ago, but it officially relaunched in November, promising several new vehicles.

One of these is the Vigus – a vehicle we’ve seen before in South Africa – but JMC also plans to introduce the new Grand Avenue.

The Grand Avenue has near-identical proportions to the Ford Ranger, which is no coincidence as Ford and JMC are officially partnered in China.

As a result of this partnership, the Grand Avenue will feature one of two Ford-sourced engines – a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol block with 190kW and 450Nm, and a 2.3-litre turbo-diesel unit with 130kW and 450Nm.

Next up is JAC, which plans to launch the new T9 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in the near future.

“We are excited to introduce the new T9 PHEV in South Africa in the first quarter of 2026,” said Karl-Heinz Göbel, CEO of JAC Motors South Africa.

“Its impressive performance, refined drivability and excellent fuel efficiency will appeal to buyers seeking a high-performance, practical and luxurious double-cab bakkie.”

The PHEV combines a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine with two electric motors, resulting in an impressive output of 290kW and 670Nm.

This will make it one of the most powerful bakkies alongside the BYD Shark and the Ford Ranger Raptor.

Since its a plug-in hybrid, it also features a 31.2kWh battery with an electric driving range of 100km.

Last but certainly not least is Chery, which is entering the bakkie space this year with the all-new Himla.

The Himla will arguably be one of the biggest launches of the year, given that Chery is already one of South Africa’s largest car brands, but the automaker has kept most of the bakkie’s details under wraps for the time being.

When TopAuto attended the Shanghai Auto Show last year, we were told that the Himla will feature a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine, but no further powertrain information has been disclosed.

Chery also stated that the Himla will eventually feature a hybrid and electric drivetrain, but these versions are only expected to appear much later.

Chinese brands were the biggest contributors to South Africa’s bakkie market in 2025

Chinese brands accounted for 10 of the 15 new bakkies that were launched in South Africa last year.

BYD launched the Shark 6 PHEV, and Foton greatly expanded its selection with the new Tunland V7 and Tunland V9 series.

The GWM P-Series received a major update and now goes by the designation “P300,” and the larger P500 saw a few changes as well.

JAC unveiled the new T9 Hunter to celebrate its recent achievements in South Africa, following the company’s setting of a new 24-hour endurance record at the Gerotek Testing Facility.

We also got a new bakkie from LDV called the Terron 9, and JMC reintroduced the Vigus when it relaunched in November.

Last but certainly not least is Changan, which is a new brand that launched in South Africa in October 2025.

Changan’s initial roster consists of a sedan, a family SUV, and an electric crossover, but bakkie fans will be pleased to know that the automaker also launched two versions of the Hunter double cab.

The “normal” Hunter uses a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, but the standout option is the range-extender electric vehicle (REEV) model.

This pickup is the first of its kind in South Africa, using a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine as a generator to charge a battery that powers two electric motors.

Chinese carmakers have become the industry leaders with regards to new-energy powertrains for bakkies, with options like the Changan Hunter REEV, BYD Shark PHEV, and GWM P500 HEV.

In contrast, Toyota only offers a mild hybrid version of the Hilux, and Ford does not sell the Ranger PHEV in South Africa, even though it is built in Gauteng.

Toyota has taken the covers off a new battery electric version of the next-gen Hilux, but it has not been confirmed for our market.