Chinese cars in South Africa: which brands sell there and since when

South Africa is the African market Chinese carmakers have gone into hardest, and the one where they have begun to buy factories rather than only ship cars. Naamsa, the automotive business council, recorded Chinese brands at 16.8% of passenger-car sales in 2025, up from 11.2% in 2024 and under 9% in early 2023, in a total market of about 597,000 units that grew 15.7%. Fifteen Chinese brands were trading in 2025 against eight in 2024 — the count varies with how sub-brands are treated — and the share passed 19% of all new-vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2026. Naamsa has described the shift as a structural reset rather than a short-term surge.

The entries came in waves. GWM and its Haval brand were established first. Chery arrived in the late 2000s, withdrew in 2018 and relaunched in late 2021; its Omoda and Jaecoo brands followed and together grew 147% in 2025, from 5,097 units to 12,597. BYD launched with the Atto 3 in Johannesburg in June 2023. MG returned at the very end of 2024, eight years after leaving, with about 30 dealers and a parts centre at Kempton Park. 2025 brought Changan and its Deepal sub-brand in October, Geely in November — announcing Zeekr, Farizon and Riddara to follow — plus Leapmotor through the Stellantis dealer network and Dongfeng's Box hatchback.

Two plants matter. BAIC's plant in the Coega Special Economic Zone at Gqeberha, a joint venture with South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation costing about R11 billion, opened in 2018 and assembles the B40 Plus and X55 Plus; BAIC confirmed in October 2025 that the B30 would be added. Chery agreed with Nissan on 23 January 2026 to acquire Nissan's Rosslyn plant near Pretoria, ending 60 years of Nissan production at the site, which opened in 1966; the transfer completed in mid-2026 and Chery says the plant will build battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models and Jetour vehicles from mid-2027, with most Nissan staff offered continued employment. Nissan remains in South Africa as an importer. GWM has been reported in talks about pickup assembly.

The tariff position has not changed but is under review. The most-favoured-nation duty on light vehicles is 25%, while vehicles from the European Union pay 18% under the trade agreement. The International Trade Administration Commission told parliament that South Africa is considering raising vehicle tariffs toward the 50% rate bound under WTO rules for completely built-up passenger cars, with imports from China and India in view; Chinese cars were 53% of South Africa's vehicle imports in 2024 and Indian cars 22%. Naamsa members have asked for 30% to 35% rather than 50%. No increase had been implemented in the sources checked.