Hong Kong's South China Morning Post article on December 24, original title: How Chinese automakers can outperform Japanese and European competitors in the South African market For years, the South African car market has been dominated by Japanese and European cars, but Chinese car brands are becoming more common on the streets of the country's major cities today. Chinese brands such as Haval and Chery have outsold some Japanese, European and American brands in SUV sales.
In the first 11 months of this year, some models of Chinese brands became the best-selling family SUVs and crossovers in the local market, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa. Although the Volkswagen Tiguan was previously the best-selling SUV in the country, in the first 11 months of this year, the Haval H6 surpassed the Tiguan in sales to rank first, and in third place was a Chery car. These mark a turnaround for Chinese automakers in the South African market, especially Chery. Before returning to the South African market in 2021, the Chinese automaker has been working hard to improve the quality of its vehicles and build a reliable dealer network, analysts said. The company also provides dealers and customers in South Africa with a large parts warehouse, a robust machinery warranty and service plan, and 24-hour roadside assistance, among other things.
* Plays an important role in the shift of the South African market towards Chinese cars. Cars made by Haval and Chery represent value for money, offering more features at a slightly lower price than similar models from some European or Japanese automakers. "In fact, Chinese cars have taken the South African market by storm," said Walter Madilla, an analyst at S&P Global Mobility, who attributed the success of Chinese brands to "value for money" and that "consumers can get a rugged, large SUV at a more competitive price than traditional competitors." ”
These (Chinese) cars have even become a powerful diplomatic tool. In August, Haval and Chery provided hundreds of SUVs to transport delegates to the BRICS summit around Johannesburg. With Uganda set to host the 19th Non-Aligned Movement Summit and the Third South Summit next year, cars produced by a number of Chinese manufacturers will be available for delegates to attend.
Mahelo, a visiting researcher at the Southern Inequality Research Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, said that most Chinese car brands are equipped with a full set of electronic systems, including omnidirectional cameras, navigation and inductive charging devices. This is in contrast to the practices of other car companies, which treat most of these features as add-ons and charge an additional fee. "More and more families are choosing competitive Chinese brands to enjoy the relevant technical features. (Written by Jevons Nyabiaj, translated by Ding Ling).