FROM NEWCOMER TO TOP 10: JETOUR CELEBRATES TWO YEARS OF RAPID GROWTH IN SOUTH AFRICA
A media briefing in July 2024 announced the upcoming launch of a new automotive brand in South Africa, entering an already crowded and highly competitive market where consumers were being presented with more choice than ever before. The question from many was not simply who this newcomer was, but how it planned to stand out in the South African automotive landscape.
Two years later, Jetour South Africa has not only succeeded in standing out, but has established itself among the country’s top 10 best-selling automotive brands.
Officially launched in September 2024 with its bold 5-seater Dashing and 7-seater family-focused X70 Plus, Jetour’s sales gained momentum quickly. Jetour achieved a place in South Africa’s top 15 best-selling automotive brands by April 2025, only seven months post launch.
With sales continuing to increase, October 2025 saw the launch of the much-anticipated T-Series. Featuring both the T1 and T2 models, these rugged SUVs started generating significant interest well before becoming available, with a growing waiting list of customers eager to be among the first to experience the newest additions to Jetour’s offering.
From a record month in October 2025 which saw Jetour achieve 852 sales across their Dashing and X70 Plus models, the availability of the T-Series saw Jetour achieve its highest monthly sales figure to date in November 2025 with 1 235 vehicle sales. Despite being on sale for only half that month, the Jetour T2 had already sold 545 units, accounting for 44.1% of Jetour's total and immediately becoming its best-selling model.
December 2025 saw this figure reach 1 371 units, with Jetour breaking into South Africa's top 10 automotive brands for the first time. In January this year, another record followed, with 1 550 vehicles sold, with the T-Series alone contributing to over 1 000 sales.
April saw Jetour launch again, this time with the PHEV T-Series. With many consumers wanting a fuel-efficient hybrid alternative and building on the growing popularity of the T-Series, the T1 i-DM and T2 i-DM were a new generation of plug-in hybrid SUVs that combined adventure capability, performance, efficiency and intelligent electric mobility.
In July this year, Jetour launched their updated Dashing and X70 Plus models, both featuring updated exterior styling, enhanced interior comfort, smarter technology and upgraded safety features.
Undoubtedly, one of the standout moments within Jetour’s relatively short two-year journey locally was its South African Car of the Year win for the Jetour T2, announced in May this year. This victory marked a historic milestone, with the brand becoming the first Chinese automotive manufacturer to claim the prestigious title in the competition’s 40-year history.
From an initial pool of 55 qualifying vehicles, the field was narrowed to 30 semi-finalists before 18 finalists were announced in January this year. The finalists then underwent rigorous evaluation by a 25-member jury panel including a three-day testing programme.
Adding to the success and growth of the brand is Jetour’s focus on after-sales service.
Before first launching into the country, the brand undertook extensive research to better understand what mattered most to customers when considering a new automotive brand. Parts availability and reliable after-sales support came up strongly. Jetour’s initial network of 40 dealerships in key locations across South Africa has since grown to more than 55. Their state-of-the-art parts distribution centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, an advanced 5000sqm facility, ensures swift and reliable availability of parts and components.
This commitment to its dealer partners has also been recognised by the industry. In July this year, Jetour South Africa achieved Gold Status in the 2026 National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) Awards for the second consecutive year. Now in its 30th year, the DSI is South Africa’s longest-running dealer satisfaction survey and one of the industry’s leading measures of how effectively manufacturers support their dealer networks, with the 2026 survey attracting a record 1 610 dealer responses.
Also helping Jetour stand out has been its strong focus on customers and lifestyle, underpinned by its ‘Travel+’ philosophy. Through dedicated customer experiences and events, together with the establishment of the Jetour Owners Club, the brand has focused on building a community that extends beyond vehicle ownership.
“We are very proud of what Jetour has achieved in these initial two years. We have surpassed many expectations, addressed challenges and established solid sales. We are also very aware that earning and maintaining the trust of South African consumers means that we need to continually deliver vehicles that people want to drive and own, backed by the quality, value and after-sales support they expect,” says Shaun Steynberg, Head of Marketing at Jetour South Africa. “Our first two years in South Africa have given us a great deal to celebrate. We are now looking forward to what comes next.”
