Chery names its first bakkie Grootman
Chery has named its first bakkie for South Africa Grootman, a name chosen by South Africans. The model is planned to make its local debut in the first quarter of 2027.
- Product News
- 2 October 2026
JAC Motors opened its first dealership in Botswana. The company entered the South African market in 2017 and extended its dealer network beyond South African borders in 2021.
Over and above its dealer network of more than 60 dealers in South Africa, the company is also present in Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
"Our continuous growth requires expanding our dealer network into neighbouring countries to better serve our widespread customer base across the southern part of the continent with top-quality after-sales service," says Karl-Heinz Göbel, CEO of JAC Motors South Africa.
JAC Motors started with only ten dealers in South Africa six years ago. Since then, its dealer footprint has grown extensively across the region and today its network of 74 dealers includes large dealer groups such as CMH, Group One, Halfway, Eastvaal, Tavcor and M&Z Motors in Namibia.
"We are delighted to extend the T-Series by introducing our all-new range-topping T9 in October after it was revealed on the international stage at the Shanghai Auto Show earlier this year. The interest in the new T9 is phenomenal, and our entire dealer network is ready for the imminent launch of this important product in the local JAC Motors stable," says Karl-Heinz.
JAC Motors started as a truck manufacturer in China 60 years ago. In 2007, the company entered the LCV and passenger car markets, and in 2014 it introduced its first battery-electric truck. Today, it is a leading player in the global market with its battery-electric truck range.
The company has had great success in South Africa with the introduction of its N75 EV 4-tonne battery-electric trucks to various last-mile delivery transport fleets, resulting in substantial cost savings and improved efficiencies whilst reducing their carbon footprint.
In 2022, JAC Motors opened its new headquarters and national parts warehouse in Roodepoort due to its growing car parc.
Chery has named its first bakkie for South Africa Grootman, a name chosen by South Africans. The model is planned to make its local debut in the first quarter of 2027.
Netcare Diagnostics (a Netcare Group business) is introducing its first fully electric vehicles to its transport fleet, starting with shorter urban routes for collecting patient pathology specimens.
South Africa’s new vehicle market recorded aggregate domestic sales of 61 645 units in September 2026, an increase of 12.7% compared with the 54 706 units sold during September 2025.
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