New Chinese hybrid SUV coming to South Africa very soon

iCAUR has officially confirmed that the new 03T REEV will arrive in South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The REEV (range-extended electric vehicle) is a new derivative for the 03T SUV that made its local debut earlier this year.

While the standard 03T is a battery-electric vehicle (BEV), the REEV is a hybrid that combines an electric motor with an internal combustion engine.

In both cases, the e-motors are the driving force behind the wheels; however, the REEV uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine as a generator to charge the 33.67kWh battery used to power the motor.

The advantage of this setup is that it provides a much greater driving range than a pure BEV (hence the name range-extended).

On its own, the battery delivers an electric range of 190km on the NEDC cycle (or 162km on the WLTP cycle).

However, once the “generator” is factored in, the 03T’s range increases to 800km.

The e-motor is mounted over the rear axle and produces 185kW and 300Nm, allowing the iCAUR to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds.

“Range extenders are a practical fit for South African roads,” said Shannon Gahagan, Head of Brand and Marketing at iCAUR and OMODA & JAECOO South Africa.

“Drivers get the simplicity of charging at home during the weekly commute, plus the freedom to refill at a standard fuel station when heading out of town. The 03T REEV brings the best of both worlds.”

The battery can also be charged independently of the generator, as the SUV supports both AC and DC charging ports.

On AC power, it can accept charging speeds of up to 6.6kW, while a DC fast charger can top up the cells from 30% to 80% in just 20 minutes.

It also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging, meaning the battery can be used to power external appliances.

The 03T itself is 4,550mm long, 1,950mm wide, and 1,785mm tall and features a blocky retro SUV design.

In South Africa, the iCAUR will come with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 50W wireless phone charger, a 9.2-inch digital driver display, an eight-speaker stereo, and a 15.6-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It will also feature leather seats, ventilated and power-adjustable front seats, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and a 540-degree panoramic camera.

More information on the iCAUR 03T REEV, such as its pricing, will be confirmed closer to its official launch in Q4 2026.

iCAUR 03T REEV