Chery launches Omoda & Jaecoo hybrid-electric SUVs in South Africa
Chery Auto, a Chinese automaker, launched its first hybrid SUVs in South Africa Thursday.
The launch coincides with a growing level of competition on Africa's biggest automotive market. Sales of hybrid and electric vehicles are increasing, and other Chinese firms, such as GAC and BYD, are also making gains.
Chery will introduce its premium Omoda brand to South Africa by 2023. The first model is the Omoda C5 SUV crossover, followed by the Jaecoo J7, and most recently, the Omoda C9.
The price of the new plug-in hybrid Omoda C9 ($56,275), while that of the super hybrid system Jaecoo C7 is 689,900 rand.
Hans Greyling said on the sidelines at the launch that this was the first of 3 launches planned for 2018.
He said that a new model will be launched on the Jaecoo's side in August, called the J5. A month or two afterward we will launch the mid-size C7 SUV on the Omoda's side.
The hybrid Omoda C9 has a 34.5 kilowatt hour battery pack that offers an all-electric driving range of up 150 km. Its combined range is 1,100 km, which makes it ideal for long journeys in South Africa with its limited charging infrastructure. $1 = 17.7518 rand (Reporting and editing by Kirsten Doovan; Reporting by Nqobile Dudla)
(source: Reuters)
