South Africa’s automotive landscape has shifted in recent years as new Chinese brands enter the market, sparking both curiosity and scepticism as each promises better value and a fresher approach.
But a brand’s real test is not at launch events or in glossy adverts. It emerges months later, when its cars appear in the used-car market, where resale value, demand, perceived reliability and consumer trust become visible.
AutoTrader data gives the clearest view of these early signals.
For this article, we examine four newcomers that launched in 2024: GAC, JAECOO, Jetour and LDV.
Their footprint in the used space is still small, but already strong enough to reveal meaningful patterns. Comparing 2024 with 2025, normalised to sales per month, shows how each brand is settling into the South African market.
Jetour:
Jetour is the standout. A name that barely registered in the used market a year ago is now posting some of the strongest growth among all newcomers. In 2024, Jetour sold 18 used units across three active months (about six per month). By 2025, with 10 selling months so far, that number has surged to 488 units (48.8 per month).
The average selling price dropped from R463 778 in 2024 to R438 040 in 2025, largely because early sales were low-mileage demos, while 2025 stock showed higher mileage (5 272km vs 1 436km). Jetour has struck the right balance of price, packaging and perceived value.
Jaecoo:
Jaecoo’s growth is steadier but still significant. In 2024, it sold 109 used units across nine months (12.11 per month). In 2025, that climbed to 294 units over ten months (29.4 per month).
Average selling prices decreased from R567 027 in 2024 to R522 262 in 2025, influenced by higher average mileage (6 739km vs 3 457km). With strong early appeal and the addition of the more affordable J5, Jaecoo appears poised for further growth.
GAC:
GAC is also building momentum, with used volumes tripling year-on-year from a very small base. In 2024, it sold four used units in one month. By 2025, that rose to 122 units across ten months (12.2 per month).
Average prices shifted from R592 423 to R436 166, mainly because the 2024 units were almost new (with 51km), while the 2025 models showed typical used-car mileage at 4 716km. GAC remains lesser-known but is gaining steady recognition.
LDV:
LDV’s used-market activity is growing at a slower pace than the other newcomers. In 2024, the brand sold 10 used units across four active months, averaging 2.5 per month. In 2025, that has risen to 26 units over eight months, or 3.25 per month.
Average selling prices have remained fairly stable, increasing slightly from R581 000 in 2024 to R589 072 in 2025, while average mileage has moved from 1 650km to 7 151km. Although growth is gradual, AutoTrader’s data suggests it is steadily finding its place.
What the early used-market signals tell us?
These early movements provide a clear snapshot of what resonates with buyers. Jetour’s rapid rise and Jaecoo’s solid momentum show a strong appetite for newcomers with appealing value propositions. GAC’s progress suggests longer-term potential, while LDV may need more time and visibility.
What’s clear is that interest in Chinese brands is no longer theoretical: buyer behaviour in the used market is now shaping the story.
Korean automaker Hyundai has been an unmitigated success in the SA new car space. The relative newcomer to the market has been a consistent top-five feature on the new-car sales charts. There are many reasons for this, including good, reliable products at competitive prices. In part, the success is also driven by innovation.
South Africa's automotive sector is set for a significant transformation as Chinese and Indian vehicle manufacturers prepare to shift from basic assembly operations to full-scale local production.
Lightstone Auto has rolled out a cutting-edge integration designed to transform how alternative lenders, rent-to-own providers and niche finance firms engage with dealerships.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
Unknown
South Africa's automotive sector is set for a significant transformation as Chinese and Indian vehicle manufacturers prepare to shift from basic assembly operations to full-scale local production.
Ford has officially ceased production of its Focus with the last versions coming of the line at the Saarlouis plant in Germany, drawing to a close more than five decades of manufacturing history.
What seemed like an ordinary factory in Dongguan has turned into a strategic flashpoint for the car industry. Nexperia, a Dutch semiconductor firm now owned by China’s Wingtech, produces low-cost chips that power basic vehicle functions, yet their sudden scarcity has shaken global supply chains.
