Latest news with #Omoda&Jaecoo
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Omoda C5 X Series doesn't just marks the spot, it hits the spot
New crossover SUV models swap out much-criticised CVT for dual-clutch transmission. Opinions vary over every aspect of Chinese carmaker from manufacturing to after sales backup. Except for one thing. The Chinese learn damn fast and apply what they've learned in no time. The Omoda C5 is just another case on point. The crossover SUV has been the cornerstone of Chery-owned Omoda & Jaecoo's local success since its debut just over two years ago. During this time, O&J twice introduced a lower-priced entry-level model to the C5 range. And more recently, two X Series models have joined the range below the S variants. These offer dual-clutch transmission (DCT) as an alternative to the much-criticised CVT gearbox. At a reduced price nogal. Omoda C5 X Series arrives The Omoda C5 Lux X DCT and Elegance X DCT have replaced the standard Lux CVT and Elegance CVT models. At R425 900, the Lux X DCT is R52 000 cheaper than before and the Elegance X DCT R42 000 less at R465 900. The Citizen Motoring recently sampled the Omoda C5 in Elegance X DCT guise. Lowering pricing usually goes with cutting some fat, but in this case, O&J actually found a way of adding a whole lot. These come under the skin, styling, space, spec and after sales backup. Apart from the gearbox upgrade, the X Series also features hardware enhancements in the form of improved brake pedal response and replacing of the torsion beam rear suspension with a multi-link setup. Improved looks The front end, which futuristic styling helped the Omoda C5 make a grande local entrance in 2023, now features a redesigned matrix grille and headlights and new bumper. The LED daytime running lights motif is also more in line with its bigger C9 sibling. No changes were made to the rear, while we thought new 17-inch black alloy wheels adds to C5 X Series' overall appeal. Inside, the materials on the doors have been upgraded, along with the addition of a more powerful 50-watt wireless charger. These features alongside the carried-over set of goodies which includes dual 10.25-inch screens, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Hello Chery voice recognition system. The comprehensive set of safety features also stay unchanged. The Omoda C5 Elegance X rides on 17-inch black alloy wheels. Picture: Jaco van der Merwe Designers have also somehow managed to eek out more boot space in a structure featuring the same architecture. It has gone up from 378 litre to a very respectable 442 litres. Omoda C5 X sticks to familiar mill The service plan, which is standard alongside a five-year/150 000km warranty and 10-year/one-million km engine warranty for the first owner, has been upgraded. It goes from a two-year/30 000km plan to a five-year/70 000km contract. ALSO READ: Omoda C5 range adjusted again to include new X Series pair Besides all these valuable additions, the real hardcore deal breaker for Omoda C5 X Series – besides its price – is the six-speed DCT gearbox. Like the CVT, it is mated to a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine which sends 115kW of power and 230Nm of torque to the front wheels. The drive mode selector also now include Normal mode alongside the Eco and Sport modes. While a DCT box over a CVT must be regarded as an upgrade all day every day, is it by no means perfect. Our biggest gripe with it the shuddering when coming to a stop. The Omoda C5 Elegance X features two 10.25-inch digital screens. Picture: Jaco van der Merwe Slow to react But to be fair to the box, it is not solely to blame for drivetrain annoyances. Loads of low-down turbo lag and typical Chinese throttle calibration issues do not help its cause. A much-delayed response during acceleration from a standstill, followed by too much power, is all to familiar. And that is sadly something that no driving mode software or gearbox mechanism can fix. ALSO READ: Omoda C5's price drops below R350 000 with new Street variant Omoda claims the DCT will sip 6.9 litres per 100km compared to the CVT's 7.4L/100km. But as we've seen so many times with this mill in various models regardless of transmission, our consumption just dipped under 10L/100km after a week of city traffic. All in all, the Omoda C5 Elegance X DCT is a very appealing package at a very competitive price. Even if your heart isn't completely sold because of the drivetrain issues, your head is likely to overrule it taking into account what is on the table.
Bangkok Post
22-07-2025
- 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.'
