Chery rolls out ‘Cherished' pre-owned car programme across SA
Chery SA has introduced a certified pre-owned vehicle programme called Cherished.
The pre-owned models come with the full backing of the Chinese carmaker and provide dealers with a selection of carefully inspected and high-quality pre-owned Chery SUVs, said Jay Jay Botes, GM for Chery SA.
He said all cars retain the remainder of the 10-year/one-million-kilometre engine warranty, a benefit exclusively available from Cherished dealers within the Chery dealer network. The engine warranty was initially available only to the first owner and was not transferable.
Botes said every vehicle undergoes a comprehensive inspection and all Cherished pre-owned vehicles receive the balance of the service plan, with a minimum of one-year/15,000km remaining. To qualify as a Cherished vehicle, all Chery models need to have been maintained within the Chery Dealer network.
Additionally, customers will be offered the chance to extend their service or maintenance plans, providing further peace of mind.
Chery returned to the SA market in 2021 after exiting in 2018. It has become the country's second-best-selling Chinese car brand behind GWM/Haval.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Auto sector reels from China's rare earth restrictions
New cars of various brands are parked for export on the parking of a car terminal at the harbour of Duisburg, western Germany. Image: AFP The global auto industry has been rocked by China's decision to restrict exports of rare earth magnets that are crucial to making vehicles. With a near monopoly on the output of rare earth elements, Beijing is using them as a key weapon in its trade war with Washington. These are the implications for the sector: China's restrictions China accounts for more than 60% of rare earth mining production and 92% of global refined output, according to the International Energy Agency, driven by generous state subsidies and lax environmental protections. As the trade war with the US has developed, Beijing has required Chinese companies since April to obtain a licence before exporting these materials - including rare earth magnets- to any country. While these rules were expected to be relaxed after a tariff deal in Geneva last month, industry stakeholders said they have not been eased at a sufficient pace. "Since early April, hundreds of export licence applications have been submitted to Chinese authorities, yet only approximately one-quarter appear to have been approved," the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) said Wednesday. "Procedures are opaque and inconsistent across provinces, with some licenses denied on procedural grounds and others requiring disclosure of intellectual property-sensitive information." And US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this month said Beijing was "blocking certain products it had agreed to market as part of our agreement". China, however, defended its "common international practice". Few alternatives Rare earths are 17 metals used in a wide variety of everyday and high-tech products, from light bulbs to guided missiles. Two of them - neodymium and dysprosium - are crucial to making powerful magnets for electric vehicles and wind turbines. These components play an essential role in "electric motors, sensors, power steering, and regenerative braking systems, among other advanced features in modern vehicles", according to consultancy firm BMI. China's restrictions highlight the world's heavy dependency, with Europe importing 98% of its rare earth magnets from the country, BMI said. And, it notes, while the European Union has introduced regulations to boost its production of critical minerals, "rare earth processing operations in Europe not only struggle to compete with Chinese producers on cost, but also lack the necessary scale to supply its automotive sector". Industry group CLEPA added that efforts undertaken in Europe to diversify supply sources "offer no short-term solutions and cannot address the acute risks currently facing supply chains". Production halts, supply concerns The auto industry is already suffering globally. "With a deeply intertwined global supply chain, China's export restrictions are already shutting down production in Europe's supplier sector," said CLEPA Secretary General Benjamin Krieger. The group on Tuesday reported "significant disruptions" in Europe, where these restrictions "have led to the shutdown of several production lines and plants". It warned that "further impacts (were) expected in the coming weeks as inventories deplete". "The slow pace of customs formalities for shipments requiring a valid export licence poses a problem," said Hildegard Muller, president of Germany's automotive industry association VDA. "If the situation does not evolve quickly, production delays, or even production losses, can no longer be ruled out." While not citing "direct restrictions" for itself, Germany's Mercedes-Benz said it was maintaining "close contact" with its suppliers, while Japan's Suzuki Motor said Thursday it "had ceased production of certain models due to a component shortage", including rare earths, the Nikkei daily reported. And US auto giant Ford had to halt production for a week in May at its Chicago plant making the Explorer SUV because of shortages, according to Bloomberg. The firm told AFP that it does not comment on "supplier issues". Indian scooter-maker Bajaj Auto recently warned the restrictions could impact its production in July. "The slow processing of (export) requests appears to be causing significant supply shortages," Cornelius Bahr from IW Economic Institute told AFP. "Statements (by German companies) indicating that stocks will only suffice through the end of June should certainly be taken seriously." The electronics industry, another major consumer of rare earths, could also suffer. "Concern is visibly growing, many companies currently have resources only for a few weeks or months," said Wolfgang Weber, president of Germany's electronics industry association ZVEI. Hope for a turnaround While uncertainty remains, talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday seem to have paved the way for a potential easing by Beijing. "There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of (exporting) Rare Earth products," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform after their phone call. A rapid resolution of the China-US row remains unlikely but reports indicate "an agreement was reached to overcome immediate obstacles, particularly concerning critical minerals", noted Wendy Cutler, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute. AFP

TimesLIVE
7 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Amapiano star Njelic seals slick endorsement deal with Chery
Amapiano heavyweight Njelic is cruising into new territory — this time behind the wheel of a major endorsement deal with international car brand Chery. Njelic, real name Tshwanelo Motlhako, is no stranger to topping charts with bangers like Isgubhu, Imali, Wamuhle, and Shesha. But his latest power move off the stage has the industry buzzing just as loudly. Over the weekend, TshisaLIVE caught wind of Njelic's exciting new partnership with Chery Lichtenburg, and the artist says it's one of the biggest milestones of his career. 'This means more convenience and access to spaces and places I never imagined music would take me,' Njelic told TshisaLIVE. He couldn't stop gushing about the features that won him over in the Chery Tiggo 8 model. 'Oh man. There's so much to love, but I'll mention a few that stole my heart. The vehicle has an air purifier — great for my sinuses — it keeps the air inside fresh and clean. And the wireless CarPlay? Perfect for whoever's on DJ duty during our road trips. The space is also incredible, enough to fit the whole family comfortably.'

IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Rate cut will drive automotive industry forward
There have been mixed reactions from the automotive industry to the 25 basis points interest rate cut announced by the South African Reserve Bank last week. Image: Supplied There have been mixed reactions from the automotive industry to the 25 basis points interest rate cut announced by the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) last week. Renai Moothilal, CEO of the National Association of Automotive Components and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM), said that they welcomed the recent interest rate cut announced by Sarb, as this will likely provide impetus to consumer uptake in the automotive market. 'There will be greater motivation for the purchase of new vehicles, and if these are of the type assembled locally, then component producing companies in SA will benefit from greater volumes, from which greater localisation can be unlocked.' Moothilal added that ultimately it is the components manufacturing part of the value chain where the greatest economic benefits come from employment, skills and technology transfer, and new business opportunities. 'Besides the positive impact on new vehicle sales, we know that consumers have been under pressure financially and under such circumstances may delay things like vehicle repair and maintenance. The stimulus that comes from this rate cut should also be beneficial for component production in such aftermarket-type components including segments like autoglass, tyres, filtration, electronics and braking systems, all of which are produced domestically.' Dr Roelof Botha, an economist and advisor to the Optimum Investment Group, said in Drive Motor Index Q1 2025 that the lowering of the official bank rate (the repo rate) by 25 basis points in January resulted in the prime overdraft rate declining to 11% (compared to 11.75% prior to September 2024). 'The relaxation of monetary policy, albeit only marginal, has clearly provided South Africa's motor vehicle sector with a measure of impetus, with the Motor Index (DMI) having increased by 3.9% in the 1st quarter of 2025 (compared to the 1st quarter of 2024).' Brandon Cohen, National Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers' Association of South Africa (Nada), said that it was most satisfying to see consumer confidence, boosted by a further interest rate cut and positive developments on the geopolitical front, translate into a 22% improvement in retail new vehicle sales in May. 'Sales were relatively slow during the first half of May but increased significantly in the latter half of the month following President Ramaphosa's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, the finalisation of the national budget, and the interest rate announcement,' Cohen said. Cohen added that the substantial rise in overall sales was primarily driven by a 30% increase in passenger car sales, with 31,741 units retailed. 'In fact, actual market activity may have even been stronger than the reported total of 45,308 vehicles sold in May, as only 12 of the 24 Chinese brands currently available in South Africa submitted sales data. Retail dealer channels performed particularly well, accounting for 88.4% of total vehicle sales in May. In contrast, rental companies made up a much lower-than-usual 6.8%, industry corporate fleets 3%, and government purchases just 1.8%.' Cohen said that the commercial vehicle sector performed exceptionally well in May, potentially signalling a renewed sense of confidence in the broader economy. Thembinkosi Pantsi, Vice-Chairperson of Nada, said that the used vehicle market also delivered some noteworthy trends. 'May was a fascinating month for the pre-owned segment of the retail motor business. Many customers opted for pre-owned models from aspirational brands instead of investing in new vehicles. This trend has been gaining traction in recent months, with some buyers even expressing interest in premium brand cars that are between seven and ten years old.' Rate cut and fuel price decrease for consumers to look forward to On Wednesday, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe announced that both grades of petrol will decrease by five cents per litre (5.00 c/l) while both grades of petrol decreased by thirty-six point nine cents per litre (36.90 c/l). This follows Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana in Budget 3.0 in May announcing an increase in the Fuel Levy, which will increase by 16.00 c/l on petrol and 15.00 c/l on diesel effective on Wednesday. Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA, said that although the recent increase in the general fuel levy presents a financial setback for consumers, the decrease in fuel, paraffin, and LPGas prices is welcome news. 'The general fuel levy for petrol has risen to R4.01 per litre, while that for diesel has increased to R3.85 per litre, effective from midnight. Despite the fuel levy hike, any decrease in fuel prices, no matter how small, is positive news for consumers who have been struggling with the rising cost of living due to high inflation rates on goods and services.'