Triton brings the challenge to competitors
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
- Product News
- 21 November 2024
JAC Motors has just rolled off its 300 000th T-Series double-cab bakkie from the Yangzhou production line in the Jiangsu Province in China, coinciding with its 60th birthday celebrations.
While it took 13 years to produce 200 000 T-Series bakkies, the next 100 000 took less than two years. This rapid growth is owing to JAC Motors' expanding international footprint and increasing sales in represented countries.
Founded as the Hefei Jianghuai Automobile Factory in 1964, JAC Motors now exports bakkies, passenger cars and trucks to over 132 countries. South Africa, one of JAC Motors' most important right-hand-drive export markets, was the first to launch the new T9 right-hand-drive bakkie.
"The T9 is a massive game-changer for us," says Karl-Heinz Göbel, CEO of JAC Motors South Africa. "At our 60th birthday event in the Cradlestone Valley near Johannesburg, journalists praised the new range-topping T9 for its car-like drive and extraordinary value compared to its rivals."
Currently, the T-Series includes three double-cab line-ups: the T6, T8 and T9, all available in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations. By the end of 2024, the range will expand with T6 single-cab derivatives, followed by T8 8-speed automatic derivatives in early 2025.
JAC Motors ranks second in the Chinese domestic pick-up industry. Last year, the company sold 55 000 pick-ups, of which 42 000 were exported. International sales were up 9.9% year-on-year, whereas domestic sales were up 16.3%, leading to an overall increase of 11.3%.
The company's export markets include Latin America, the Gulf States, Central Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia. In 2023, JAC Motors ranked first among Chinese pick-up brands in Mexico, Peru and Kazakhstan.
At this year's Beijing Automotive Show, JAC Motors launched a battery-electric version of the T9, boasting a range of 500 km. The T9 EV features an 88.02 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, with its power coming from two electric motors with 70 kW and 160 kW maximum power, delivering 176 Nm and 342 Nm torque, respectively.
"The new luxurious T9, the most advanced bakkie ever produced by JAC Motors, is packed with numerous creature comforts and safety features. It is a true disruptor in the local leisure double-cab market, offering extraordinary value at a retail price starting at only R549 900," Göbel concludes.
Since its market introduction in 2017, JAC Motors South Africa has expanded its line-up to include T-Series double-cabs, X-Series forward-cabs, and trucks ranging from three to nine tonnes. JAC Motors leads the local EV truck segment, boasting the highest number of battery-electric trucks on South African roads.
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
JAC Motors added ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) to its X200 2.8L TDI 1.5-tonne single-cab, enhancing safety for both the crew and cargo. This latest upgrade complements the ABS-equipped X200 1.3-tonne double-cab targeted at organisations with labour-intensive crews.
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