By Otsile Kadiege

Remember Chery? They are a Chinese car manufacturer which sold cars like the Tiggo and QQ3 in South Africa. The automaker made a brief exit from the South African automotive market and are now back in Mzansi with their latest and now advanced models. 

Future plans

We recently attend the brand’s relaunch in Gauteng where they shared their future plans and also showed us a few of the models they plan to introduce in South Africa. Chery is now a wholly owned subsidiary and will enter the market with an established network of 30 dealers. These dealers have been selected over the past year for their strong track record, good reputation and geographical location.

Chery will back these dealers with a large parts warehouse, strong mechanical warranty and service plan, and a comprehensive 24-hour roadside assistance service.

Model line-up 

Chery will introduce a range of new SUVs which all use the automaker’s T1X and M3X platforms. The automaker promises a model range with fashionable looks, the latest technologies and high build quality. The Local line-up will consist of the Tiggo 4, Tiggo Cross, Tiggo 7 and the range-topping Tiggo 8. The first model to launch later this year is the compact SUV – the Tiggo 4. It will be followed by the 7-seater Tiggo 8 as well as the Tiggo Cross, Tiggo 7 and a bakkie in 2023.

We had a brief interaction with the Tiggo 4 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro, and we were very impressed with the exterior as well as interior design, practicality and technology. 

Powertrains

Powering Chery’s new lineup is the award-winning 1.6 ACTECTO TGDI direct-injection and the 2.0 TGDI engines. The former produces 145 kW and 290 Nm while the latter makes 192 kW and 400 Nm.

Early indications are that the Chery brand will do well especially if their product pricing is right. We hope that covid-19 will not affect their plans to launch the Tiggo 4 this November.