Dakar - South African crews dig deep as second week begins
The 2026 Dakar Rally roared back into action on Monday with Stage 8, a gruelling 481km loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir.
- Industry News
- 12 January 2026
Chery South Africa says it is accelerating its growth in the local car-rental industry, with its national passenger vehicle market share reaching 6.2% in the past month. As interest in Chery’s range of vehicles continues to grow for consumers and fleet operators, the brand is seeing increasing interest from rental car companies nationwide.
Demonstrating this momentum, Chery has delivered 100 units of the Tiggo 4 Pro – one of the best-selling SUVs in South Africa – to First Car Rental. The handover took place at the rental company’s depot in Johannesburg and was attended by the Chery Fleet Team as well as First Car Rental’s Johannesburg Depot Manager.
This delivery is the latest milestone in a growing relationship between Chery and one of South Africa’s leading car rental providers. It also marks an opportunity for First Car Rental to experience the Chery Fleet Department’s customer-centric approach first-hand.
“We’re proud to see more rental companies choosing Chery, not only for our vehicle’s value and safety, but also for the professionalism and responsiveness of our fleet team,” commented Siphiwe Nkutha, National Fleet Sales Manager for Chery South Africa. “We thank First Car Rental for their trust and look forward to supporting their continued success with dependable vehicles and dedicated after-sales service.”
In addition to supporting car rental companies, Chery has supplied fleet vehicles to corporate clients and government departments. The automaker has also served as a mobility partner for significant events, including BRICS, SA Auto Week, and the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting, reinforcing its growing reputation in the fleet management and mobility space, it claims.
The 2026 Dakar Rally roared back into action on Monday with Stage 8, a gruelling 481km loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir.
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