Newly-launched car brand in South Africa outselling Mercedes-Benz and Honda

Jetour, launched in South Africa in September 2024, has shown strong growth and is now selling more cars in the country than Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and Mazda.

Jetour is a Chinese vehicle manufacturer established by the Chery Holding Group, producing crossovers and SUVs.

The brand evolved into an independent entity with complete control over its operations by 2021. It has a strong focus on global growth.

Jetour described its goal as producing safer, more comfortable, more intelligent, and eco-conscious automobiles.

Between 2018 and 2024, Jetour has sold over 1.2 million vehicles globally across its five product lines, with over 1,200 partners in 60 countries.

In September 2024, Jetour entered the South African market with 40 dealerships nationwide and a large parts warehouse in Kyalami, Johannesburg.

The new automotive brand targets mid- to high-level South African consumers seeking comfort, elegance, safety, and reliability.

“We are excited to mirror Jetour’s worldwide success in South Africa and become the top choice for travel vehicles amongst local customers,” Jetour SA MD Johnny Fang said.

He stated that the company aimed to sell 800 units per month within the first year of operation, with their Jetour X70 Plus and Dashing models the first to enter the local market.

He says priorities locally will also include enhanced service quality and availability of parts, supported by the Kyalami warehouse.

Shaun Riley, Jetour South Africa’s Logistics and Warehouse Manager, said they are building a future-ready supply chain at Jetour South Africa.

He said the Jetour South Africa warehouse is cleaner, faster, and more responsive than their competitors because it’s digital-first.

“We use a variety of world-class tools to manage and optimise every part of the operation, from picking and receiving, to final dispatch.”

“Everything we do in logistics feeds into that moment when a customer gets their car back on time, repaired properly, with no hassle.”

Strong Jetour car sales in South Africa

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa’s (Naamsa) latest vehicle sales stats revealed that Jetour sold 620 passenger cars in May 2025.

This was more than well-known brands like Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Volvo.

The May 2025 new passenger car market, at 31,741 units, had registered an increase of 7,322 cars, or a 30.0% gain, compared to the 24,419 new cars sold in May 2024.

“The SARB’s May decision will add further momentum to these gains, as consumers respond positively to improved credit conditions,” it said.

With inflation easing to 2.8% and the rand regaining strength, the macroeconomic environment became more conducive to supporting consumer spending and business investment.

“The SARB’s downward revision of oil price forecasts further contributed to a benign inflation backdrop,” Naamsa said.

“In this context, the rate cut offers tangible relief to households, enhancing vehicle affordability through lower financing costs.”

The charts below show Jetour’s passenger car sales in South Africa and how it stacks up with prominent brands.

This article was first published by Daily Investor and is reproduced with permission.