Chinese automakers continue to gain ground in South Africa. We take a closer look at September 2026’s passenger-car sales data, model pricing, legacy brand impact, and upcoming vehicle launches.
Chinese passenger-car brands continue to expand their presence in South Africa. Market data from TransUnion shows that Chinese vehicle manufacturers account for nearly 20% of total new passenger-car sales. These brands gain consumer favour by offering competitive retail pricing, high standard equipment levels, and comprehensive warranty packages.
Financial pressure drives South African buyers toward price-sensitive choices. Chinese passenger-car options offer premium features at price points below base model prices of legacy manufacturers. This volume of Chinese imports places financial and operational strain on established brands. Except for manufacturers with production facilities in India and locally produced passenger cars such as the Volkswagen Polo Vivo, traditional European, Japanese, and South Korean companies struggle to match the competitive pricing and rapid product release schedules of these new entrants.
10 best-selling Chinese passenger cars in South Africa in September 2026
The September 2026 sales report from naamsa demonstrates that Chinese brands hold a strong position in the South African passenger-car market. Chery leads sales with the Tiggo 4/Cross at 2 251 units. Pricing for this model starts at R279 900. Chery’s entry-level compact SUV ranked as South Africa’s fourth best-selling passenger vehicle overall for the month. GWM placed second with the Haval Jolion, at 1 351 units sold. The Jolion is priced from R348 950. Chery sub-brand Omoda followed in third, with 936 units of the C5, which starts at R349 900, sold in September.
Jetour captured market share across three models, led by the T2 (from R569 900), at 757 units. The company also achieved 584 units for the Dashing, which is priced from R439 900, and 441 units for the T1 (from R514 900). Jaecoo recorded 410 units for the J5. Chery adds 392 units for the Tiggo 7. GWM completes the top 10 chart with 385 units of the Haval H6 and 263 units of the Ora 5 sold. Competitive pricing in crossover segments drives these sales figures. Geely does not submit sales data to naamsa.
- Chery Tiggo 4/Cross– 2 251 units
- Haval Jolion – 1 351 units
- Omoda C5 – 936 units
- Jetour T2 – 757 units
- Jetour Dashing – 548 units
- Jetour T1 – 441 units
- Jaecoo J5 – 410 units
- Chery Tiggo 7 – 392 units
- Haval H6 – 385 units
- GWM Ora 5- 236 units
Chinese sales trends beyond September 2026
Chinese automakers continue expanding in South Africa through new sub-brands and model launches. Geely entered the local bakkie segment with the Riddara RD6 electric unibody bakkie in late 2026. Chery is gearing up to launch its double-cab bakkie, named Grootman, in the first quarter of 2027. BYD will introduce its Denza luxury sub-brand, which will include plug-in hybrid SUV models such as the B5 and B8. Premium electric brand Zeekr will bring the 7X crossover and 001 shooting brake to market. Changan expands its lineup through the Deepal series, while JAC will introduce the T9 PHEV. Most upcoming Chinese models focus on electrification, making future adoption rates a key metric to monitor.
