CHINESE automotive Jetour to begin SA production in 2027.
The breaking news were made at the recent Auto China 2026, also known as the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, that began in April 24 to May 3.
Since the introduction of the T- Series brand in mzansi, it has grown from strength to creating brand equity amongst hard to please South Africans.
The overly jubilant President of Jetour International, Ke Chuandeng, says the announcement indicates that the increasingly popular T-Series, launched in South Africa in October last year, will begin local production at the plant from next year.
With the introduction of Jetour T1 and T2 models, over 4500 units of the T-Series have been sold in SA, and one expects the latest PHEV models: T1 and T2 iDMs, to hit the ground running.
While Jetour and Chery are positioned as separate brands locally, they are closely related at a global level, with Jetour being one of the brands under the Chery Group umbrella.
Talk of Chery, they acquired the Rosslyn manufacturing plant from Nissan, meaning Chery South Africa transitions from an importer to a local manufacturer.
By mid-2027, Chery aims to produce 50 000 units annually and create over 3 000 jobs across manufacturing and supply chain sectors.
“Being at Auto China this week has been an important moment for us,” said Nic Campbell, Vice President of Jetour South Africa.
“This announcement to produce the Jetour T-Series locally positions South Africa as an integral part of Jetour’s global ambitions and underscores the growing influence of Chinese automakers in our market.
This is undoubtedly a very exciting time for Jetour.
In just 18 months since launching independently in South Africa, we have introduced four internal combustion models and two PHEV models, with further upgrades and new models planned for this year and next.
This latest step into local production really marks a significant next phase in our journey.”
