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How Chinese carmakers are overtaking Japanese, European rivals in South African market
- Data for the first 11 months of 2023 shows the Haval H6 sold more units than South Africa’s previous leading SUV, the VW Tiguan
- Chinese carmakers offer better value for money, with many ‘extras’ coming as standard, analysts say
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On the streets of South Africa’s major cities, Chinese car brands are becoming an increasingly common sight in a market that has for years been dominated by Japanese and European-made cars.
Generally, when it comes to total car registrations or sales figures, Japanese brands such as Toyota, Suzuki and Nissan dominate in South Africa. European brands, like Germany’s Volkswagen, as well as the South African subsidiary of US carmaker Ford, also have a large share of the market.
But it is in the family SUV category where Chinese carmakers have begun to claw back some of the market share. Companies such as Haval, a subsidiary of Great Wall Motors (GWM), and Chinese state-owned carmaker Chery are now selling more SUVs than some Japanese, European and American brands.
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According to data by the Automotive Business Council or Naamsa, Haval and Chery had some of the bestselling family SUVs and crossovers in the first 11 months of this year.
In fact, analysis done by South African car advertising site Cars.co.za, based on the Naamsa data, showed that while previously the Volkswagen Tiguan had been the country’s top selling SUV, in the first 11 months of 2023 the Haval H6 was ahead with 5,032 units, while Tiguan was in second place with 3,165 units.
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Meanwhile in third place was the Chinese Chery Tiggo 8 Pro which sold 2,195 units. It beat South Korea’s Hyundai Tucson which registered 1,767 units in the 11-month period, followed by the Mazda CX-5 with 1,283 units.
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