Wait, what? Another Chinese car brand set to join the market
Of late, the Chery Group has been on a serious growth trajectory. Just last week, the Chinese company expanded its manufacturer portfolio with the addition of the Lepas brand, a stylish new contender that will bridge the gap between premium and mainstream Chinese brands.
The latest addition is called iCaur, or simply pronounced iCar, and it’s aimed directly at GWM’s Ora brand, and just like its main competitor, it’s a fully electric car brand. It’s earmarked to launch in Mzansi in the first quarter of 2026 after its local reveal at this year’s Festival of Motoring.
It was founded in 2023 in China as part of Chery’s strategy to target younger, tech-savvy urban consumers who are looking for stylish and affordable electric SUVs.
While the brand hasn’t mentioned any specific models headed our way, it says it’s in the process of finalising its retail network, with the first dealership expected to open its doors in key metropolitan cities. A total of 15 dealerships are expected to open by the first quarter of 2026.
As for possible models, the iCaur 03 compact crossover SUV could be the first to launch locally. This will likely be followed by the V23 compact rugged SUV, which, if our eyes are not deceiving us, reminds us of a certain SUV of British origins. The range could then be expanded with the addition of the X25 off-road MPV and the V27 full-size SUV model.
What we’ve noticed with these new Chinese brands in SA is that while they’re still proving themselves on factors like resale and long-term reliability, they offer competitive pricing and impressive feature lists compared to established manufacturers. But a fully electric brand when hefty levies continue to be imposed on EVs? It will be interesting to see how it fares.
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