Just when you thought the Chinese automotive invasion could be slowing down, comes news of yet another new brand ready to attack our market. Mzansi, it’s time to meet Jetour.
The brand was founded by Chery in 2018 and currently operates in more than 60 countries across the world, where it has sold in excess of 1,180,000 vehicles.
Although it is Chery-owned, Jetour operates separately from its parent company’s brands, which now also include Omoda and Jaecoo, and the same will apply in South Africa.
When it launches in September, Jetour plans to have 40 dealerships spread across South Africa and the company already has a 4,000 square metre warehouse in Midrand, Gauteng, which will be stocked with an initial shipment of at least 82,000 parts that are already on the water and destined to arrive before the first vehicles.
Jetour’s local representatives held a press conference on Thursday where they revealed the brand’s sales target of at least 800 units per month within the first year of operation.
Given what its sister brands have so far achieved, that certainly doesn’t seem implausible.
Two SUVs initially, more to follow
Jetour will kickstart its local sales effort with two products, the Dashing and X70 Plus, with the more rugged looking T2 and T1 SUV models scheduled to arrive in 2025.
The Dashing and X70 Plus are classified as midsize SUVs, but the importer would not be drawn on pricing or positioning just yet, although it did state that the vehicles would be aimed at “mid- to high-level” consumers.
The Dashing is the more striking of the two, featuring edgy exterior lines with, dare we say, hints of Lamborghini Urus and Lexus NX.
At 4,590mm long, it’s slightly larger than the Chery Tiggo 7 and Jaecoo J7, while its larger Jetour X70 Plus sibling, at 4,749mm, is a smidgen bigger than Chery’s Tiggo 8, and like the latter it also seats seven occupants.
In overseas markets both Jetour models are offered with a choice between two turbocharged petrol engine options: a 1.5-litre with 115kW and 230Nm and a 1.6 direct injection unit that’s good for 145kW and 290Nm.
Both will sound familiar to Chery owners.
The local engine line-up has not been announced as yet, but we’d bet on the bigger 1.6 unit featuring more prominently across the line-up.
Yet while Jetour’s products do share components such as engines with Chery models, the local representatives said the company does conduct its own development on chassis, transmissions and other key parts.
As for the brand’s name? Jetour is a combination of “Jet”and “Tour”, words chosen to evoke a sense of speed and adventure.
“We are excited to mirror Jetour’s worldwide success in South Africa and become the top choice for travel vehicles amongst local customers,” says Johnny Fang, Managing Director of Jetour South Africa.
Stay tuned for more details on the new models closer to their September launch.