All Chinese Car Brands Available in SA – Part 1

There are several Chinese car brands presently on offer in South Africa. The original foray of brands from China started well over 15 years ago. However, that was mostly carried out by wholesalers and importers. As a result of, then, iffy quality and poor after-sales service, most disappeared. However, those that still exist have returned, mostly, in an official capacity with full-scale backing from HQ. The list of Chinese car brands in SA seems to expand near monthly. We take a closer look at what is available on the market right now. Although, we have kept our list exclusive to passenger vehicles and not included commercials, of which there are few.

Click here to read about and watch our recent experiences driving a Pagani Huayra BC.

BAIC

BAIC (or Beijing Automotive Group Co) is one of the oldest carmakers in China with a history that goes back as far as 1958. The company has two models on offer locally. There is the B55 (pictured), which many people may have seen on our roads, and the B40 Plus. The former is a sleek prospect with slim headlamps and modern appearance. The X55 has single powertrain offering, a 1,5 turbopetrol with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The B40 Plus is more rugged with an off-roading 4×4 driveline. Buyers can choose between petrol and diesel power. Both 2,0-litre engines are turbocharged.

X55 prices start from R429 900
B40 Plus prices start from R574 500

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BYD

BYD (which stands for Build Your Dreams) is one of the leading producers of NEVs (new energy vehicles) in the world. In March of this year, BYD became the first car manufacturer worldwide to produce its seven millionth NEV. Last year it led new car sales in its home market with over 2,5 million cars sold. According to this article it even outsells Tesla two to one in China.

In SA, the brand currently offers three models. These are the Atto 3, the Seal and the Dolphin. All are available exclusively with battery power. The SUV Atto 3 was its first offering on the local listings. BYD, however, bucks the trend of SUV-only line-ups by also having the hatchback Dolphin and Seal sedan (pictured). The latter, at almost a million rand, is one of the most expensive Chinese vehicles on sale in SA right now. It has 390 kW of power and can spring from rest to 100 km/h in under four seconds.

Dolphin prices start from R539 900
Atto 3 prices start from R760 000
Seal prices start from R999 900

Chery

Chery is probably one the best known of the Chinese car brands available in SA right now. The company was one of the first to dip its toe into the local market all those years ago with a few offerings. Thankfully, things have improved markedly since the QQ3 and original Tiggo were sold here. China’s number one importer of new cars is a regular feature in the top-ten sales charts in SA. This attests to a model line-up that is attractive and well-suited to the prevailing local economic climate. The all-SUV range includes the entry level Tiggo4, the mid-size Tiggo7 and large Tiggo8. Each is available in a variety of flavours and with different powertrain and driveline options. The top-selling Tiggo4 range has just expanded with the inclusion of the Tiggo4 Cross. 

Tiggo4 prices start from R279 900
Tiggo7 prices start from R442 900
Tiggo8 prices start from R609 900

Dayun

Dayun is one of the least known quantities when it comes to Chinese brands in the local context. The brand is imported by a Pretoria based outfit called Enviro Auto, which primarily offers commercial vehicles. However, the Yuehu S5 will hit our shores in a matter of days. When it does it will be South Africa’s cheapest EV. The tiny crossover has 35 kW and there is an advertised range of 330 km.

Dayun Yuehu S5 prices start from R399 900

GAC

GAC (for Guangzhou Automobile Group) is one of the newest arrivals into the fold. The brand is sold locally by Salvador Caetano Auto, a well-established international automotive group. The company also has an SUV-only line up. Two models are on offer, the GS3 Emzoom and Emkoo (pictured). Both are boldly styled and featured tech-laden interiors. A 1,5-litre turbocharged engine mated with an automatic transmission is the only powertrain on offer across both models.

GS3 Emzoom prices start from R469 900
Emkoo prices start from R599 900