Jaecoo has plans to introduce a smaller and cheaper SUV in South Africa, but it will be a while before we see it in action.
TopAuto recently contacted Omoda and Jaecoo (O&J) South Africa to ask about the company’s upcoming plans for our market, including future product launches.
One of the new cars the Chinese automaker has lined up is the Omoda C4, which is scheduled to appear in the second half of 2026.
Originally called the C3, Omoda later changed the name to the C4 in response to early feedback from fans and co-creation sessions with early adopters, who reasoned that “4” was more accurate to its market positioning.
Regardless, the C4 will serve as the new entry point to the Omoda family when it arrives next year, slotting below the C5.
Omoda and Jaecoo are, of course, a twin brand that share a similar roster, though the two badges cater to different audiences.
Omoda is the more city-focused of the two with its selection of sleek crossovers, while Jaecoo is meant to appeal to the outdoor crowd with its blocky SUVs.
Right now, Omoda has three cars in South Africa – the C5, C7, and C9 – while Jaecoo has two – the J5 and J7.
Next year, this list will be expanded to include the C4, as well as the Jaecoo J8.
This means that the O&J catalogue will look like this by the end of 2026:
This made us curious as to whether Jaecoo will introduce a counterpart to the C4, which could function as its entry-level SUV in South Africa.
We asked O&J if the company has any plans to launch an equivalent to the Omoda C4, which would presumably be called the Jaecoo J4.
“For now, these project plans are underway, but we are still a long way from seeing the first renders of these vehicles or beginning launch preparations,” said Hans Greyling, General Manager at Omoda & Jaecoo South Africa.
“If this does occur, it will not be before 2027.”
In other words, an entry-level Jaecoo SUV is on the way, but it’ll be a long time before we even see what it looks like, let alone buy it.
What to expect
In the meantime, we can look at O&J’s other products to get a sense of what Jaecoo’s new SUV could be like.
The styling is one aspect that should be straightforward, as the J5, J7, and J8 all have a similar shape with blocky SUV proportions and a vertical slat grille at the front.
Details that distinguish the J4 from its peers will likely come down to its size and aesthetic differences like the LED headlights, daytime running lights, and alloy wheel designs.
Likewise, all of Jaecoo’s vehicles favour a minimalist interior with a digital driver display and a large floating portrait infotainment screen in the centre of the dashboard.
The biggest unknown factor is the powertrain, as Omoda has yet to confirm the specifications for the upcoming C4.
It did, however, state that the C4 will feature both internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid (HEV) options.
The “Jaecoo J4” is likely to have the same options, but we’ll have to wait and see what both cars offer when they finally go on sale in South Africa.
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