Jetour: the full picture

At Auto China 2026, the president of Jetour International, Ke Chuandeng, announced that from 2027, Jetour would be producing some of its models locally in South Africa. Jetour has emerged this Saturday as one of the stories drawing attention in South Africa.

Key facts

• At Auto China 2026, the president of Jetour International, Ke Chuandeng, announced that from 2027, Jetour would be producing some of its models locally in South Africa.
• The Motor Industry Staff Association (Misa) is celebrating Jetour’s announcement that it will be producing some of its models in South Africa from 2027.
• Jetour president Ke Chuandeng made the announcement at Auto China 2026 in Beijing.
• Plans are underway to bring the newcomer to South Africa as early as the fourth quarter of 2026.
• Reveal time put on Omoda C4 bound for South Africa.

What we know

Going deeper, the Motor Industry Staff Association (Misa) is celebrating Jetour’s announcement that it will be producing some of its models in South Africa from 2027.

On the substance, Jetour president Ke Chuandeng made the announcement at Auto China 2026 in Beijing.

Beyond the headlines, Plans are underway to bring the newcomer to South Africa as early as the fourth quarter of 2026.

More precisely, Reveal time put on Omoda C4 bound for South Africa.

“Jetour’s decision means jobs, skills and opportunities for our members and their families.

By the numbers

At this stage, the T1 and T2 combined have sold more than 4 500 units in South Africa since their launch in October 2025.

On a related note, By mid-2027, Chery aims to produce 50 000 units annually and create more than 3 000 jobs across manufacturing and supply chain sectors.

Going deeper, Auto China 2026 also focused firmly on electrification, hybridisation and intelligent mobility systems.

On the substance, this, after the original Himla, known internally as KP11, went on sale earlier this month with a restyled frontal facia as the R08 under the revived Rely brand.

What they're saying

“Chinese automakers bring advanced expertise in electrification, hybridisation and intelligent mobility systems,” Misa said in a statement.

“South African workers stand to gain immensely from exposure to these technologies, ensuring that the auto industry remains competitive in a rapidly changing global market.”

The wider context

On a related note, while Jetour and Chery are positioned as separate brands locally, they are closely related globally, with Jetour being one of the brands under the Chery Group umbrella.

Going deeper, With the launch of the plug-in hybrid electric range of the Jetour T-Series last month, Misa also believes that the investment is an opportunity for skills transfer and collaboration.

On the substance, Chery bakkie and Jetour T-Series heading for Rosslyn production.

Beyond the headlines, Shown along with a pair of heavily modified derivatives parked just off the marque’s test track, the KP31 Chery bakkie still sported blacked-out windows to hide its interior, despite the release of several depictions last week.

More precisely, as such, neither could be driven compared to the original Himla, now the Rely R08, last year.

The bottom line

• The Motor Industry Staff Association (Misa) is celebrating Jetour’s announcement that it will be producing some of its models in South Africa from 2027.
• While Jetour and Chery are positioned as separate brands locally, they are closely related globally, with Jetour being one of the brands under the Chery Group umbrella.
• The T1 and T2 combined have sold more than 4 500 units in South Africa since their launch in October 2025.