The year may be nearly over, but a new Chinese brand has just touched down in South Africa.
The new carmaker, known as Dongfeng, held a launch event in Gauteng this week, announcing its first car in the process.
What to expect
Dongfeng (pronounced “Dong Fong”) is one of the oldest automakers in China, dating back all the way to 1969.
It is one of the “Big Four” state-owned carmakers in China alongside the FAW Group, Changan Automobile, and SAIC Motor – the latter of which owns the MG brand that’s coming back to South Africa next year.
Dongfeng historically specialized in medium and heavy commercial vehicles, many of which were produced for the Chinese military, but has since branched out into the passenger segment.
In stark contrast to the brand’s legacy of commercial trucks, its contemporary lineup is more similar to that of BYD, focusing on affordable all-electric models.
The automaker’s first car in South Africa is simply called the “Box” and is scheduled to go on sale in early 2025, with pricing to be revealed closer to the launch date.
That being said, the Box will likely be positioned as a rival to the Dayun Yuehu S5 and the BYD Dolphin – the two most affordable electric vehicles (EVs) in the country – so we imagine its sticker will fall somewhere between R399,900 and R539,900, if not a bit higher depending on its final spec sheet.
The Box is an electric hatchback measuring 4,030mm (L) by 1,180mm (W) by 1,570mm (H), making it more or less the same size as the Dolphin.
Powering the EV is a 42.3kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor, which generates a total of 70kW and 160Nm.
This is enough to give the Dongfeng a top speed of 140km/h, and a maximum driving range of 430km.
Provided that owners make use of a DC fast charging port, the car can also achieve a 30-80% recharge in just 30 minutes, giving it another 200km or range.
Dongfeng has yet to provide a detailed breakdown of the Box’s local specifications, but a glance at the company’s international website shows we can potentially look forward to two-tone faux-leather upholstery with multiple colour combinations, a wireless charger, a 12.8-inch floating infotainment screen, a digital driver display, automatic climate control, ambient lighting heated seats, and driver assistance functions like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a surround-view camera system.
The automaker has also confirmed it will launch two additional products in South Africa in 2025, though it did not state which models these would be.
However, it’s worth noting that only one other Dongfeng – the 007 – has been produced for right-hand-drive markets right now, making it an obvious choice for one of the two other badges heading our way.
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