Chery to Introduce Premium Jaecoo Brand in South Africa

Jaecoo, Chery’s latest sub-brand has officially announced its entry into South Africa, marking it one of the first global markets to receive the premium Chinese brand.

Bear in mind Chery branded cars with its Tiggo range of SUVs as well as its Omoda sub-brand have already marked their entry into the right-hand driven South African market. Tony Liu, executive deputy general manager for Omoda and Jaecoo stated:

“Earlier this year, SA was the first country on the African continent to offer the Omoda brand, and our nation is now among the first in the world to welcome Jaecoo. We have big plans for Jaecoo, including the expansion of our dealer network to about 50 by the end of 2024.”

Liu further explained the brand name “Jaecoo” which combines the German word “jäger” (meaning “hunter”) and the English term “cool,” reflecting the brand’s focus on outdoor adventure and urbanism. The J7, which is so far the first and the only product in the Jaecoo lineup features a minimalist design language, accommodates 5 passengers, and boasts a large 14.8-inch vertically positioned touchscreen inside. While specific luxury specifications remain undisclosed, the vehicle ensures a high level of safety features, according to Liu.

Under the hood, the Jaecoo J7 is powered by a 1.6L four-cylinder turbocharged engine that churns out 184 hp of power and 275 Nm of torque, paired to a 7-speed automatic gearbox. The SUV will offer both front and all-wheel-drive options. Notably, it features Jaecoo’s All Road Drive Intelligent System, boasting 7 driving modes tailored for specific driving scenarios.

Further information and local specs will become available with the J7’s formal launch early next year. This action places South Africa at the forefront of Jaecoo’s worldwide launch plan, after the country’s initial introduction of the Omoda brand.