Latest news with #Omoda&Jaecoo
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Bangkok Post
Omoda & Jaecoo vows to expand Thai investment
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Omoda & Jaecoo (Thailand) is planning to spend more money in a bid to stimulate sales of EVs amid the sluggish automotive market in Thailand. The company, a subsidiary of China's state-owned Chery Automobile, earlier announced a 5-billion-baht investment to build a battery EV (BEV) plant in Rayong, scheduled to start operations in the fourth quarter of this year. "We have no plan to cut the investment budget. Instead we will increase the budget to support our marketing campaign to boost car sales," said Qi Jie, president of Omoda & Jaecoo. A compelling marketing campaign is needed for Omoda & Jaecoo to better compete with rival EV companies, especially those from China, as competition in the EV segment is strong, he said. Many Chinese EV manufacturers are also spending money on marketing campaigns, both in terms of pricing strategy and brand building, in an effort to boost sales. Omoda & Jaecoo and other EV companies are struggling to deal with the impact of fewer auto loans as banks and car financing companies remain cautious about lending money to prospective car purchasers amid the high level of household debt in the country, for fear of non-performing loans. According to Mr Qi, the company is not concerned about the Board of Investment's (BoI) ongoing efforts to encourage EV manufacturers to use more domestically sourced auto parts for EV assembly. BEV manufacturers who are granted tax and investment incentives by the BoI are required to have the proportion of domestic EV parts represent 40% of total EV component costs. The parts value increases to 45% for plug-in hybrid EV manufacturers. "We set a target to have local content make up more than 50% of the total costs, up from less than 20% at present," said Mr Qi, who added that the low amount resulted from the initial phase of Thailand's EV industry development. The company had a total of 42 showrooms in the first half of this year. The number is set to increase to 70 by the end of 2025. From October 2024 to June 2025, Omoda & Jaecoo sold 1,000 cars in Thailand.
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Chery-owned iCar coming to South Africa as renamed iCaur
Off-road devised EV brand will be a standalone marque similar Omoda & Jaecoo and Jetour, and launch officially in August before sales start in the first quarter of 2026. Retro-styled V23 is likely to be one of the models iCaur will bring to South Africa. Image: iCaur South Africa After a series of rumours stemming from the Shanghai International Auto Show in April this year, Chery has confirmed that its electric off-road-focused iCar brand will be debuting in 2026, but under a different name. How do you say it? Founded two years ago, with its first model, the 03, being shown at Chery's inaugural tech festival event in its hometown of Wuhu later that same year, the marque will function in a standalone capacity similar to its Omoda & Jaecoo and Jetour siblings. ALSO READ: All-electric Jaecoo J6's low running costs won't justify lofty price tag In a turnaround though, and because of copyright ownership, the brand will be known as iCaur. Still pronounced 'i-car', sales will commence in the first quarter of 2026, making it the 15th Chinese vehicle manufacturer in South Africa after its parent company and divisional trio, BAIC, BYD, Dayun, Dongfeng, Foton, GAC, Great Wall Motors (GWM) Haval, JAC, LDV and MG. Its operations taking place from a projected 15 dealers by the time of its market arrival, the initial iCaur line-up will seemingly consist of three models, the same number currently sold in China. What to expect? Jaecoo J6 no more. Prepare for iCaur 03 Of these, the 03 will formally debut as an iCaur after initial plans had been for it to debut as the Jaecoo J6. While shown as an iCar at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring last year, rebadging it as the J6 was eventually decided on for the starting of sales this year. Indeed, while a number of pre-production units were provided to the media badged as Jaecoos, plans on selling it came to an abrupt halt in a move now known to have been taken in response to the launching of iCar as iCaur. The iCar 03 made its world debut at Chery's Tech Day in Wuhu two years ago. Image: Charl Bosch As such, the 03 will take leave of the Jaecoo specific front-end and revert to its iCar frontal appearance, still with the inverted L-shaped headlights, and a lower case 'i' on the faux spare wheel cover that houses a storage area instead of the charging equipment. Dimensionally, the 03 measures 4 406 mm long, 1 910 mm wide and 1 715 mm tall with its wheelbase stretching 2 715 mm. The claimed ground clearance is 195 mm. The move to iCaur from Jaecoo will, speculatively, have a further impact on the 03's choice of powerplants as the J6 had been expected to offer only all-wheel-drive. iCar 03 made its debut, before becoming the Jaecoo J6, at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring last year. Image: Charl Bosch In this instance, the dual electric motor setup produces 205kW/385Nm from a 69.7-kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack. At the time, Jaecoo claimed a range of 364 km, 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and DC charging up to 80 kW that requires a waiting time of 30 minutes from 30-80%. In the case of the rear-wheel-drive, the battery pack produces 65.6-kWh and drives a single electric motor that makes 135kW/220Nm. The claimed range is 371 km and the 0-100 km/h dash 10.5 seconds. The iCar 03 was originally supposed to be sold as the Jaecoo J6. Image: Jaecoo Similar to the all-wheel-drive, the two-wheel-drive 03 supports DC charging up to 80 kW, and will necessitate the same 30 minute wait from 30-80%. Specification, while still to be divulged, will more than likely be carried over from the now defunct J6 and include the 15.6-inch infotainment display, heated and electric front seats, panoramic sunroof, a 540-degree surround-view camera system and a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster. iCar 03T likely? Showcased at the end of last year, the improved 03T, which sports sharper styling, wider wheel arches and subtle rear facia changes, could also be earmarked for South Africa as it is reportedly under consideration for Malaysia, according to As per the 03T, also sold as the rebadged Chery X3 Plus in China, measures 4 327 mm in overall length, with the rest of its dimensions being similar to the 03 that also goes by the name Chery X3. Updated iCar 03T could also be in-line for South Africa. Image: iCar Power, reportedly, comes from a 68.3-kWh battery pack that produces 185 kW. Suggestively, this amounts to the all-wheel-drive as official iCar pricing claims a range of between 501 km and 520 km based on China's CLTC measurements. Pricing reportedly ranges from 119 800 yuan (R298 505) to 129 800 yuan (R323 422). Retro V23 Depicted in the brand's official confirmation statement, the third model it currently produces, the retro-styled V23, will serve as the alternative to the 03 and possibly, as the entry-level iCaur product. An aesthetic combination of the Toyota Land Cruiser 40-series when viewed from the front, the Defender 110 from the side and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class at the rear, the V23 made its world debut last year as a joint venture between Chery and the Zhimi Technology division of smartphone marker, Xiaomi A supposed tribute to the Soviet-era Beijing Jeep BJ212 that has been used by the Chinese military since 1965, the V23 has measurement of 4 220 mm in overall length, a height of 1 845 mm, width of 1 915 mm and wheelbase of 2 735 mm. Sporting a claimed 200 mm of ground clearance, the V23's departure angle is set at 41-degrees and its approach at 43-deegers. No details surrounding its breakover angle was divulged. V23's rear bears more than a close resemble to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Image: On the power front, the V23 offers a choice of two battery packs; the entry-level being a 59.9-kWh module powering a single rear-axle mounted electric motor developing 100kW/180Nm. Based on CLTC measurements, which differ from the WLTP used in Europe and by in-large, South Africa, the two-wheel-drive V23 will do 401 km on a single charge and require a waiting time of 30 minutes from 30-80%. Producing the same power, the extended range two-wheel-drive receives a bigger 81.7-kWh battery that translates to a claimed CLTC range of 550 km. V23's interior sports a central display similar in appearance to the Ineos Grenadier. Image: iCar Finally, the all-wheel-drive retains the bigger battery pack, but adds a 55kW/112Nm motor to the front axle for a combined output of 155kW/292Nm. In this guise, the range falls to 501 km, while the claimed waiting time remains at 30 minutes from 30-80%. Sporting an interior similar to that of the Ineos Grenadier, notable specification items consist of a 15.4-inch infotainment system, the 540-degree surround-view camera, a series of physical climate control dials and Adaptive Cruise Control. Priced from 109 900 yuan to 149 800 yuan in China, which equates to R273 746 and R373 132 respectively when converted directly and without the various taxes included, the V23 is likely to be priced significantly higher once sales in South Africa commence next year. Almost here The brand will its official debut at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring in August where more details will be revealed. ALSO READ: Preview for South Africa? All-electric Jaecoo J6 debuts in Thailand
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Omoda C7 getting ready to show itself at the Durban July
Chery-owned brand's latest SUV will solely be offered as a plug-in hybrid with the same drivetrain as sister brand Jaecoo's J7 SHS. Set to make its long awaited market launch within the coming weeks, Omoda & Jaecoo has revealed official powertrain details of the incoming Omoda C7 that will straddle the gap in the marque's line-up between the C5 X-Series and the C9. Powertrain selection now final Unveiled in production guise in Thailand in March and then at the Beijing International Auto Show the following month, the C7 will make its first public showing at the Durban July this weekend solely as a plug-in hybrid under Super Hybrid System (SHS) moniker. Although set to produce 265kW/530Nm in Thailand, for South Africa, the electrified powertrain will be detuned, but still paired to a single-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT). The same unit sister brand Jaecoo debuted in the J7 SHS last month, the C7 SHS pairs a 1.5 T-GDI engine with an 18.4-kWh battery pack powering a single electric motor on the rear axle. ALSO READ: South Africa-bound Omoda C7 PHEV details emerge abroad Combined, the setup develops the same 255kW/525Nm as in the J7 SHS, allowing for an all-electric range of 105 km and a total of 1 200 km when taking the combustion engine into consideration. Supporting DC fast charging up to 40 kW will require a waiting time of 20 minutes from 30-80%. While able to get from 0-100 km/h in a claimed 8.5 seconds in Thailand, the South African-spec C7 will possibly to be a fraction slower despite its lowered outputs coming with an additional reduction in combined range of 50 km. The opposite, though, is that its EV-range is greater by 15 km. Likely spec and price Developed specifically for export markets, and therefore unlikely to be sold in its home market, the C7 SHS's likely specification items will consist of a 14-speaker Sony sound system, a fragrance dispenser, quad-zone climate control and a marque first 15.6-inch infotainment system. While unconfirmed at present, likely pricing for the C7 SHS could start between R500 000 and R700 000 based on the flagship C5 X-Series retailing from R465 900 and the entry-level C9 from R785 900. ALSO READ: VIDEO: SA-bound Omoda C7 will have a range of 1 200km
TimesLIVE
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Chinese carmakers look to Africa as global winds shift
Chinese carmakers face consumer scepticism over quality, spare parts availability and the untested resale value of their vehicles. But they are counting on price and advanced technology setting them apart from Africa's traditional market leaders and are focusing on offering plug-in hybrids and EVs with a starting price of under R400,000. 'As long as they remain affordable from an upfront cost perspective, they will be differentiated against legacy brands offering similar specifications,' said Greg Cress of advisory firm Accenture. Omoda & Jaecoo, which launched in Africa in 2023 and operates 52 dealerships in South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana, hopes to triple sales in the next 18 months and enter new markets Zambia and Tanzania. BYD plans to expand its dealership network in East, Southern and West Africa, including a first-time entry into Tanzania. Steve Chang, BYD Auto South Africa's general manager, said he is not daunted by the slow adoption of EVs and Africa's internal combustion engine-dominated vehicles market. 'I think South Africa and the rest of Africa have a very big opportunity to what I call leapfrog from ICE into renewable energy [cars],' he said. 'Africa is a very big market.'
The Citizen
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Plug-in Jaecoo J7 and Omoda C9's shock goes further than power
Chery division's first hybrid models not only come with dramatic outputs, but a market first decade-long warranty on various battery and electric motor components. Omoda & Jaecoo has officially launched its first plug-in hybrid models in South Africa, the C9 SHS (right) and J7 SHS (left). Images: Charl Bosch Known to be in the pipeline for South Africa since being founded as the standalone brand from parent company Chery now almost two years ago, Omoda & Jaecoo officially debuted its first hybrid models this week under the newly created SHS or Super Hybrid System banner. Shock to the system A moniker unveiled at the Shanghai International Auto Show in March, and set to be used by the Chery as well, the setup utilises a plug-in hybrid configuration as a way of what the brand views as being the ideal new energy propulsion method for the local market. ALSO READ: Intensely shocked plug-in hybrid Omoda C9 SHS arriving in June Initially, this entails two models, the Omoda C9 and Jaecoo J7, with the former's C7 set to be the third SHS model come later this year. Having grown steadily with sales combined sales this year so far of 4 110 units, the division's SHS launch in Muldersdrift outside Johannesburg involved a trek to and from the Gerotek testing facility where a series of normally uncommon exercises was to take place. Petrol vs SHS Teased in select details throughout May after being finally approved in February, the J7 SHS and C9 SHS seemingly differ little from their respective petrol siblings on first glance, though closer inspection soon reveals the hybrid specific touches. Besides the second flap that hides the charging outlet on the left rear wing, both get PHEV badges on the bootlid and, in the case of the J7, 19-inch aero wheels. Modelled on the mid-range Glacier with the C9 using the top-spec Explore as a base, the biggest difference reside underneath the bonnet where the former loses the 1.6 T-GDI engine and the latter the 2.0 T-GDI unit. J7 SHS's biggest exterior difference from the normal petrol are the 19-inch aero alloy wheels Losing their respective seven-speed dual-clutch and eight-speed torque converter automatic gearboxes as well, both utilise the 1.5 T-GDI from the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Omoda C5, albeit connected to a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) with a single-speed in the J7 and a three-speed in the C9. For the former, the electric hardware consists of an 18.3-kWh battery pack powering a single electric motor on the rear axle. Combined, the setup develops 255kW/525Nm, which Omoda & Jaecoo claims will take the J7 SHS from 0-100 km/h in 8.4 seconds. The claimed all-electric range is 90 km and the combined with the petrol engine included 1 250 km. C9's rear visual difference from the regular petrol is the PHEV badge on the tailgate and the secondary charging flap on the rear wing. At the same time, the fuel consumption is 4.8 L/100 km and the waiting time 20-25 minutes from 30-80% using a DC fast charger. Officially the most powerful Chinese car now available in South Africa, the C9 SHS not only gets the bigger 34.4-kWh battery pack, but two additional electric motors for a total of three. The result is a total output of 440kW/915Nm, a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds and an all-electric range of 150 km. Its driveline making it all-wheel-drive from the start versus the front-wheel-drive J7, the C9 SHS has a combined range of 1 100 km, fuel consumption of 5.8 L/100 km and the same 20-25 minute waiting time from 30-80% when using a fast charger. The drive J7 SHS Topping their respective line-ups, the first leg of the journey involved the J7, whose inclusion of the hybrid system as seen the lamented combination of a poorly calibrated throttle and mismatched transmission being eradicated almost completely. Smooth on take-off and no longer as laggy, the J7 feels more responsive and, even at highway speeds, able to travel a significant distance on EV power than its supposed range claim. Despite its smaller battery than that of the C9, the J7 SHS also supports DC fast charging. In total, the J7 SHS comes with two hybrid modes; the default HEV and fully-electric EV, plus three drive modes; Eco, Normal and Sport. Once depleted, or at higher speeds, the powerplant reverts to the petrol engine, a transition that goes relatively smoothly without any jerks being present. That being said, once fired-up, the smaller capacity petrol becomes audible at the national limit, and with a strained noise which does smoothen once at a constant speed. Spec Besides a new centre console, which has seen the aircraft-style gear lever being dropped and replaced by a steering column-mounted selector, the rest of the J7 SHS's cabin is unchanged and feels not only premium and well put together, but spacious despite the standard fitting of the panoramic sunroof. Glacier-spec based means the standard inclusion of the 14.8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless smartphone charger, the eight-speaker Sony sound system, an integrated dashcam, electric, heated and ventilated front seats, Head-Up Display, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, an electric tailgate and ambient lighting. J7 SHS' interior sports a new centre console and a column-shift gear lever. Safety and driver assistance system, which sadly still includes the frustrating Driver Monitoring System, comprises the following: 360-degree surround-view camera; front and rear parking sensors; Automatic Emergency Braking Adaptive Cruise Control; Rear Cross Traffic Alert; Auto High Beam Assist; Traffic Jam Assist; Lane Departure Warning Blind Spot Monitoring In the confines of Gerotek, the task with the J7 involved manoeuvring it through a series of strategy placed cones without knocking them down. With the surfaces wetted, the front-wheel-drive J7 felt largely composed, but, unsurprisingly, tended to oversteer when turned sharply. A PHEV logo has been added to the tailgate on the right-hand side. Admittedly, and highly unlikely to be driven in the same manner as the media by future buyers, the J7's steering felt slightly better than that of its petrol sibling, though still recognisable as an over assisted electric setup. Notably, an all-wheel-drive model is in the works and could arrive either by year-end or in 2026 depending on the rate of development. C9 Swapping from the J7 to the plusher but much more powerful C9, the pair of line-up tests included a high-speed braking exercise and the dreaded moose test. Feeling its weight when jarred from side-to-side as found with the normal Explore tested last year, the C9 SHS' greater power becomes apparent, but not with the same potency as its figures suggest. Despite its smaller battery than that of the C9, the J7 SHS also supports DC fast charging. Braking from an eventual 158 km/h, the C9 didn't feel as lacking in the brake department as the petrol variant did, however, the overly assisted steering prevailed. Away from Gerotek, the continues adaptive dampers have been retuned to accommodate the electric system and as such, no longer result in the C9 being as floaty as before. In an opposite from the J7 though, the electric motors and battery pack haven't solved the C9's throttle calibration foibles as a noticeable delay and hesitation remains before it eventually accelerates. New to the interior are hybrid graphics within the instrument cluster and infotainment system, and a two-tone brown-and-black Nappa leather finish. Refined and quiet, the transition from petrol to electric is just as unobtrusive as in the J7, with three hybrid modes being available: HEV, EV and EV+, along with the carryover six driving settings: Eco, Normal, Sport, Mud, Snow and Off-Road. As with the J7, the firing of the power engine comes is anything but pleasant on the ear and becomes badly strained when accelerating as a likely result of it having to work harder with the added weight of the battery pack and trio of electric motors. Given that all of the models still had to be run-in and that some had done less than 1 000 km, a more thorough determination will be given once the first units arrive for the seven-day test. Spec As for standard equipment, the C9 SHS comes standard with Nappa leather upholstery, a fragrance dispenser, heated, electric and ventilated front seats, a 12-speaker Sony sound system, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and a panoramic sunroof. Centre dashboard dial now comes with integrated HEV and EV buttons. Include further are two wireless smartphone chargers, Head-Up Display, ambient lighting and a pair of 12.3-inch displays for the instrument cluster and the infotainment system – the latter furnished with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard safety and driver assistance tech comprises: 540-degree camera system; Auto High Beam Assist LED headlights; Driver Attention Monitor; Adaptive Cruise Control; Lane Departure Warning; Blind Spot Monitoring; Lead Vehicle Alert; Rear Cross Traffic Alert; Lane Keep Assist; Reverse Automatic Braking Conclusion With the mentioned sales growth experienced throughout the year so far, the introduction of the SHS variants of the Jaecoo J7 and Omoda C9 adds an element of assurance given the uncertainty and range anxiety still associated with fully electric vehicles. At the same time providing a near-on 100 km electric range – in the case of the J7 – self-charging hybrids cannot match it still remains to be seen how both will be accepted come the monthly sales figures. Price Included with each model's price tag, the J7 SHS and C9 SHS introduce a series of warranty firsts to the local markets. In addition to the first owner-only 10-year/1 000 000 km engine warranty, both come standard with a 10-year/200 000 km guarantee on not only the battery, but also various other electric components Omoda & Jaecoo refers to as the power motor control unit. Completing the back-up guarantees is a seven-year/200 000 km warranty, a five-year/75 000 km service plan and, for the first 250 buyers only, free installation of a wallbox charging unit as a premises of choice. J7 J7 1.6 T-GDI Vortex DCT – R519 900 J7 1.6 T-GDI Glacier DCT – R579 900 J7 1.6 T-GDI Inferno AWD DCT – R679 900 J7 SHS – R689 900 C9 C9 2.0 T-GDI Inspire AT – R785 900 C9 2.0 T-GDI Explore AWD AT – R885 900 C9 SHS – R999 000 ALSO READ: Plug-in hybrid Jaecoo J7 becoming one with the grid in June
