Kia’s Tasman bakkie arrives in South Africa
Kia has taken a bold step into one of South Africa’s most competitive automotive segments with the launch of the Tasman, its first-ever double cab bakkie.
- Product News
- 9 April 2026
The Chinese SUV brand, Jetour, has experienced rapid growth in recent years, having sold over 1.22 million vehicles across its five product lines globally within a mere 70 months. From January to August this year, Jetour sold 310 000 vehicles, surpassing its annual sales for 2023.
“Compared to other auto brands established in the past six years, Jetour is the fastest-growing Chinese brand,” says the President of Jetour Auto, Li Xueyong, who travelled to South Africa for the official launch of the brand last month.
The company's international strategy is driven by its innovative "Travel+" philosophy, integrating cutting-edge technology with travel to enhance the customer experience. Elaborating on this, Li says that Jetour’s long-term strategy is to be the automotive brand with the deepest understanding of travel, along with excellent off-road capabilities, world class safety and ample space for travel with family and friends.
“Guided by our "Travel+" strategy, we design our vehicles with a user-centred approach, merging insights from both the travel and automotive industries. Our product development philosophy embraces the full ecosystem of travel scenarios, aiming to create vehicles that reflect a deep understanding of travel needs. Our goal is to become the automotive brand most attuned to the future of travel,” he says.
Jetour’s technical strength is built on a foundation of 27 years of innovation and expertise. This legacy allows Jetour to leverage the group’s vast technological advancements, giving it a unique edge. By integrating global travel scenarios into its core technologies, the brand is continuously enhancing the experience value of its products. This ongoing integration reflects Jetour's ability to blend advanced automotive technology with real-world travel needs, offering enriched and reliable solutions to consumers worldwide.
Jetour has created two product series for family travel and off-road travel, led by the Dashing and X70 Plus, which are both currently available in South Africa, with the next series due to launch locally next year.
The brand has high expectations for the South African market, aiming to sell 2 000 units by end of the year, with a cumulative sales goal of 30 000 units over the next three years.
Kia has taken a bold step into one of South Africa’s most competitive automotive segments with the launch of the Tasman, its first-ever double cab bakkie.
Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has reached another major milestone with the production of the 500 000th unit of the current Polo for the export market.
OMODA has expanded its South African lineup with the arrival of the C5 SHS hybrid, a new addition to the C5 range.
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