Chinese Car Manufactures Are Winning South Africa’s Car Marketplace

Chinese Car Manufacturer BIAC, recently secured their first accolade, right after their BIAC BEIJING X55 won car of the year award, under the Compact Family category, in South Africa on the 1 June 2023. Furthermore, the Chery Tiggo Pro, which is also a Chinese automotive brand, won the Motor Enthusiasts Choice accolade, which was voted for by the public on social media, sponsored by Old Mutual Insurer.

According to car manufacturer Chery’s website, the car brand managed to sell 126 713 units in April 2023, both domestically and globally, and those numbers are indeed evident on South African roads. A day won’t go by without you spotting a Chery vehicle on the road.

Another Chinese automotive brand that is taking the South African car market by storm, is Haval, car manufacturer owned by GWM. When it first launched in South Africa back in 2017, it faced criticism because it is a Chinese vehicle brand, and at the time German, and Japanese brands like VW and Toyota, were still dominant when it comes to sales in South Africa. However, as time went by South African car consumers gave the Haval brand a warm welcome, and it now boasts 1 512 units sold in South Africa in March.

South Africans love bakkies also known as a Pick-up truck, however due to the tough economic period in South Africa, South Africans want value for their money. Which pushed the Chinese car brand GWM, to take the Bakkie industry in South Africa by storm, with its GWM P-Series. The GWM pick-up-truck was ranked number 9, on the top 20 new bakkie sales list in march 2023, with 372 units sold. Coming right after German brand, VW Amarok, which ranked number 8, with 401.

Chinese automotive manufacturers operating in South Africa, seem to have the perfect recipe of making vehicles that are appealing for South African car consumers. In the near future, we might see these Chinese car brands overthrowing the currently dominant German and Japanese car brands.