One Chinese car brand is growing so fast in South Africa it is selling more cars than BMW and Mercedes-Benz combined

Jetour, a Chinese automotive brand under the Chery Holding Group, is selling more cars in South Africa than BMW, Nissan, and Mercedes-Benz.

This was revealed in the April 2026 data on vehicle sales supplied by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa).

South Africa’s new vehicle market extended its positive domestic performance into April 2026, with domestic demand continuing to anchor overall industry activity.

Aggregate domestic new vehicle sales in April 2026 reached 47,979 units, the best April performance since 2013.

The latest sales represent an increase of 5,512 units, or 13,0%, compared to the 42,467 vehicles sold in April 2025.

“The April performance largely reflects momentum built over preceding months, supported by improved financing conditions,” Naamsa said.

The April 2026 new passenger car market at 34,414 units recorded an increase of 4,301 units, or 14.3%, compared to the 30,113 new cars sold in April 2025.

Naamsa said that April 2026 marked a clear inflexion point in the macroeconomic environment, led by the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

This conflict triggered a sharp repricing in global energy markets, with oil prices moving structurally higher and introducing a broad-based cost shock.

In South Africa, where road transport underpins the majority of freight activity, higher fuel prices are directly passed through to consumer prices.

In the vehicle market, these pressures feed into the total cost of ownership, placing additional strain on demand.

This strain aggravates an environment characterised by tightening credit conditions and increasingly constrained real disposable incomes.

Jetour shows strong growth

Jetour, launched in South Africa in September 2024, has shown strong growth and is now selling more cars in the country than BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and Mazda.

Jetour is a Chinese vehicle manufacturer established by the Chery Holding Group, producing crossovers and SUVs.

The brand evolved into an independent entity with complete control over its operations by 2021. It has a strong focus on global growth.

In September 2024, Jetour entered the South African market with 40 dealerships nationwide and a large parts warehouse in Kyalami, Johannesburg.

Jetour targets mid- to high-level South African consumers seeking comfort, elegance, safety, and reliability.

At the time, Jetour SA MD Johnny Fang said they wanted to sell 800 units per month within the first year of operation.

Jetour easily met this sales target in South Africa and continued its strong growth over the next eighteen months.

In April 2026, Jetour sold 1,804 cars, significantly higher than BMW with 1,366, Nissan with 875, and Mercedes-Benz with 432.

Toyota continues to lead local passenger vehicle sales with 9,842, followed by Suzuki with 5,363, and Volkswagen with 4,769.

The table below shows the total passenger vehicle sales by manufacturer in South Africa in April 2026.