Omoda Launches All-New C7 PHEV SUV In South Africa At A Very Compelling Value For This Market

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A number of Chinese language corporations have been ramping up their presence in South Africa. Most of them are launching new merchandise at a fast tempo, and most significantly, at very aggressive costs. The enticing costs and merchandise have been serving to to shift shopper tendencies in South Africa, in response to a current buying and selling replace from one of many giant gamers in South Africa’s accredited preowned automobiles gross sales market. WeBuyCars says the “fast rise of competitively priced model new vehicles from Chinese language manufacturers together with GWM, Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo, Jetour, MG, JAC, and BAIC, has considerably influenced shopper behaviour.” These competitively model new automobiles are placing stress on margins for accredited preowned automobiles as properly, and this might disrupt the used automobile gross sales market as properly.

One of many tendencies we’ve observed within the first half of the 12 months is that PHEVs are actually the quickest rising automobile phase in South Africa. Gross sales of PHEVs grew 162% YoY for the interval January to June 2025. Throughout the identical interval, the general market was up 14%, BEVs had been down 24%, and HEVs had been down 6%. One of many corporations that’s actively selling PHEVs in South Africa is Chery’s model Omoda. Omoda has already ramped up its operations to incorporate as many as 39 devoted dealerships round South Africa. The model’s supplier community Omoda is backed by the Chery Group’s already-established elements warehouse and customer-care workplace. Omoda is a model based in 2022 and already working in South Africa in addition to a number of different main markets, comparable to the UK, New Zealand, Mexico, Chile, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Omoda additionally just lately entered the European house, the place it made its extremely anticipated debut in Spain. It simply goes to indicate you how briskly plenty of these new Chinese language manufacturers are increasing their attain throughout the globe.

Earlier this 12 months, Omoda launched the C9 PHEV, which was properly acquired available in the market. Omoda has now adopted that up with the launch of the C7 PHEV final week. Omoda says the C7 has daring exterior styling, spacious cabin, 15.6-inch infotainment show, premium Sony sound system, wi-fi charging, and multi-color ambient lighting. It has as much as 21 driver-assistance programs, digital stability management, plus industry-leading warranties and 7 years of roadside help. Omoda South Africa is increasing its SUV line-up with the introduction of the all-new C7 that slots between the C5 X Sequence and the C9. 

The C7 SHS plug-in hybrid pairs a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with an electrical motor, producing a mixed 255 kW and 525 N.m. Its Devoted Hybrid Transmission (DHT) gives an all-electric vary of 105 km, a complete vary of roughly 1,200 km.  The C7 SHS has  an 18.4 kWh LFP (lithium-ion phosphate) battery, which may cost from 30-80% in  20 minutes through a 40 kW DC charger, or from 25-100% in 160 minutes when plugged right into a 6.6 kW charger.

Right here is the worth listing for the Omoda C7 fashions supplied in South Africa:

• C7 1.6 TGDI Luxurious (ICE) — R539,900.00 ($31,528)
• C7 1.6 TGDI Class (ICE) — R589,900.00 ($34,447)
• C7 SHS (PHEV) — R689,900.00 ($40,287)

Omoda says the SHS battery pack is roofed by a 10-year/limitless km guarantee for the primary proprietor, whereas sure electrical drive unit parts (for the C7 SHS) are additionally protected underneath this plan. Consumers additional profit from 5 years of roadside help (limitless km). To know why these Chinese language manufacturers comparable to Omoda and Jaecoo have been properly acquired within the South African market, and several other different markets, here’s what you get within the Omoda C7:

• Trendy, minimalist inside with leather-based upholstery, electrically adjustable entrance seats with heating and air flow, and a driver’s seat reminiscence perform. Twin-zone local weather management as normal.
• An 8.88-inch digital show cluster offering all important driving data. a 15.6-inch infotainment show integrates automobile controls, local weather settings, and media. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity present seamless integration with smartphones.
• An eight-speaker Sony sound system within the petrol mannequin and a Sony 12-speaker setup within the SHS, complemented by a 50-watt wi-fi charging pad. Clever Excessive Beam Help, automated headlights, and multi-colour ambient lighting permit drivers to personalise the cabin atmosphere for each journey.
• Geared up with ABS, Brake Help, and Digital Stability Programme (ESP), alongside twin entrance, front-side, curtain, driver’s knee, and entrance centre airbags. Except for passive security options, the C7 is provided with as much as 21 superior driver-assistance programs (ADAS), together with: Blind Spot Detection,Door Opening Warning Rear Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Site visitors Alert, Rear Cross Site visitors Brake, Lane Change Help, Adaptive Cruise Management, Lane Departure Warning, Clever Headlight Management, Velocity Restrict Help (C7 SHS solely), Ahead Collision Warning, Computerized Emergency Braking—Car, Pedestrian & Bicycle owner Detection, Site visitors Jam Help, Built-in Cruise Help, Emergency, Lane Holding, Lane Departure Prevention, Drive Away Reminder.

Fairly plenty of these options don’t come normal in conventional auto model fashions that value double the worth of the Omoda C7. So you possibly can see why these new Chinese language manufacturers are serving to to shift shopper tendencies in South Africa.

New automobile gross sales for Chinese language manufacturers have skyrocketed, and the identical tendencies are evident within the used automobile market, with AutoTrader’s newest Mid-12 months Report revealing gross sales of Chinese language manufacturers rose by 89% within the first half of 2025, led by BYD (+637%), Omoda (+99%), and Jaecoo (+168%). Whereas these percentages are placing, they replicate development from a comparatively smaller base, as these manufacturers are nonetheless rising gamers in South Africa’s automotive market. Model new automobiles at these compelling costs from these new auto manufacturers in comparison with what’s on supply from conventional auto corporations will shake up the auto {industry} in a number of African nations within the close to future. This is not going to solely be a shakeup for model new automobile gross sales, but in addition for the used automobile market.

This aggressive pricing edge has not gone unnoticed by South African customers, whose preferences are progressively shifting. Whereas model cachet was as soon as a priority, many consumers are actually prioritizing worth over different elements (comparable to model and status), and demand extra from their vehicles, comparable to security, luxurious options, and expertise, at a good value. We might see this identical pattern rising in different African nations as properly. We is perhaps witnessing the beginning of an entire new period for mobility for a lot of nations on the African continent.