The tide of new Chinese car brands entering South Africa doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon, given that at least six new marques are set to open their doors before the end of 2026.
Last year saw the arrival of six new manufacturers from the People’s Republic, including Changan, Deepal, Dongfeng, Geely, Leapmotor, and MG.
These companies, which cover a wide spectrum of vehicles from hybrid bakkies to affordable hatchbacks and premium SUVs, added to an increasingly long list of Chinese brands in South Africa alongside now-familiar names like Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo, Jetour, GWM, Haval, BAIC, Foton, JAC, and BYD.
However, this list will soon be expanded by the presence of at least six more Chinese carmakers in 2026, comprised of Denza, iCaur, Farizon, Lepas, Riddara, and Zeekr.
What’s coming in 2026
Starting with Denza, this is the luxury division of the electric carmaker BYD, which has been rapidly growing its presence in South Africa.
BYD launched in our market in 2023 with a single product – the Atto 3 crossover – but its catalogue has since been expanded with models like the Shark bakkie, Sealion 5 and 6 SUVs, and the Dolphin and Dolphin Surf hatchbacks.
Denza is essentially the “Lexus” of BYD, and is expected to launch in South Africa in early 2026 with its first car – the B5.
The B5 is an Adventure SUV that shares a platform with the BYD Shark, and uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with two electric motors.
Its price tag is still unknown, but it will likely compete with other high-end 4x4s like the Ford Everest, Land Rover Defender, and Toyota Prado.
Next up are two new brands from the Chery Group – iCaur and Lepas – which will cater to different audiences.
Lepas will be positioned as an upmarket alternative to Chery’s Tiggo family of SUVs, offering three models called the L4, L6, and L8.
iCaur, on the other hand, is a brand specialising in retro-themed electric 4x4s aimed at younger buyers.
This includes the 03 and the V23, which will initially be offered with a battery electric vehicle (BEV) drivetrain, with a range-extender electric vehicle (REEV) option to follow at a later date.
The other three brands heading to South Africa all belong to the Geely family, which is a manufacturer that made its debut last year.
Geely arrived in November with two SUVs – the electric E5 and the plug-in hybrid E5 EM-i, and this is now set to expand with arrival of its Farizon, Riddara, and Zeekr brands this year.
Farizon is a commercial brand that produces electric vans and trucks, but the other two names will be more relevant to private households.
Zeekr is Geely’s luxury sub-brand, similar to Denza, and produces electric and plug-in hybrid models like the X crossover and the 001 estate.
Unfortunately, Geely has not revealed which vehicles we can expect from Farizon and Zeekr, but the third brand – Riddara – will introduce a new electric bakkie in South Africa very soon.
Called the RD6, it is available with either a single, rear-mounted electric motor or a four-wheel-drive configuration with a motor on each axle.
Riddara’s vehicles will be locally distributed by Enviro Automotive, but the company has yet to confirm an official release date for the RD6.
Denza
iCaur
Farizon
Lepas
Riddara
Zeekr
Loading ...
