Chinese vehicle manufacturer Chery has announced its plans to introduce its electric vehicle brand, iCar, to the South African market in early 2026.
Read: Google is losing its fight to not be broken up
The announcement was made during the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, where Chery confirmed South Africa as one of the 100 countries slated for the brand’s rollout or expansion in the coming years.
The initial lineup for South Africa will feature two models: the iCar 03 and the iCar V23. The brand’s “0”-line is designed with young, urban drivers in mind, while the “V”-series targets those with a more adventurous, outdoor lifestyle. Notably, both model ranges will offer a choice between fully electric vehicle (EV) and range-extender electric vehicle (REEV) powertrains. REEV technology prioritizes electric-only driving, with the internal combustion engine primarily serving to extend the vehicle’s range.
The iCar 03 is a compact crossover available in a fully electric configuration with either a single 137kW rear-mounted motor or a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing a combined 208kW. Battery options for the iCar 03 range from 51kWh to 70kWh, with the latter offering a claimed maximum CLTC range of 501km.
The iCar V23 is a smaller SUV with design cues reminiscent of the latest Land Rover Defender and Toyota Prado. It will be offered with three battery capacity options: 47kWh, 60kWh, and 82kWh, providing claimed CLTC ranges between 301km and 501km. The entry-level rear-wheel-drive, single-motor V23 models will deliver 100kW of peak power and 180Nm of torque, while the all-wheel-drive, dual-motor variant will boast an impressive 292kW and 455Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 3.5 seconds.
While several Chinese automakers, including BYD, have already introduced EVs in South Africa, Chery is a well-established brand in the country. Despite an initial unsuccessful launch in 2008 followed by a near disappearance, Chery has experienced a remarkable resurgence since its re-entry in 2021, rapidly climbing to become the eighth best-selling brand in South Africa by 2024, with over 20,000 units sold. The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro has been particularly successful, ranking as the sixth best-selling new model in 2024.
iCar will represent the fifth brand under the Chery Group umbrella to be launched in South Africa, joining the main Chery brand, as well as Omoda, Jaecoo, and Jetour. Interestingly, Chery had initially intended to launch the iCar 03 under the Jaecoo nameplate as the Jaecoo J6. However, the company later decided that the iCar brand possessed a distinct identity warranting its own separate rollout and dealership network, independent of Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo.
Another potential factor influencing this decision may have been the desire to avoid trademark disputes with a certain prominent tech company known for its “i”-prefixed product names. Chery has been using the iCar name in China since 2007. Notably, while Apple has trademarked the “iCar” name in some international markets, South African records indicate that the trademark for vehicles is currently under application by Chery.
