A busy year awaits OMODA & JAECOO, with the all-new JAECOO J7 SHS and the OMODA C7 PHEV just two of the new, electrified models due to reach South African shores later this year.
In the coming months, the automaker will accelerate the implementation of its global NEV strategy, launching five new SHS (Super Hybrid System) models throughout the year to cater to an ever-growing customer base interested in electrified vehicles.
The OMODA C7 and JAECOO J5 are the centre of this strategy. Later this year, these two core models will also reach South African dealerships, solidifying both brands in their respective markets. Additional plans include further investment in European markets, expansion to 19 countries and extension of the global network to more than 60 regions.
Locally, OMODA & JAECOO has grown from strength to strength and is now one of the country’s best-selling passenger vehicle brands. With just three models on offer, the automaker delivered 806 new vehicles to South African customers, with the C5 leading the way with 559 units.
In the first quarter of 2025, OMODA & JAECOO recorded a remarkable 370% quarter-on-quarter increase in NEV sales. With plug-in hybrid models gaining momentum across key markets, the brand anticipates that hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs will account for more than 50% of its total global volume by year-end.
When the J7 SHS arrives in South Africa, it will be powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor that produce combined outputs of 255kW and 525Nm of torque. Thanks to the 18.3kWh battery pack, the electrified SUV can travel up to 90km on electric power alone, with a combined driving range of around 1 200km.
“As we return to Auto Shanghai with a bold new line-up, we’re thrilled to share a glimpse of the electrified future OMODA & JAECOO are driving toward,” commented Shannon Gahagan, Brand and Marketing Manager for OMODA & JAECOO South Africa.
Additional information regarding the new OMODA C5 HEV, C7 SHS, as well as the all-electric JAECOO J5 BEV will follow at a later date.
According to a Reuters report, China's automotive sector faces an unprecedented crisis beneath its outward success. Despite becoming the world's largest car exporter and producing global leaders like BYD and Geely, the industry is trapped in a destructive spiral threatening widespread bankruptcies.
Volkswagen is abandoning its separate electric vehicle naming convention, opting instead to align its battery-electric models with established combustion engine nameplates. The German automaker announced that the strategy shift would begin with the ID Polo, set to debut in 2026.
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A light on my car’s dashboard came on, and instead of fixing the problem, I waited for the bulb to burn out. Crisis solved.
Jarod Kintz
According to a Reuters report, China's automotive sector faces an unprecedented crisis beneath its outward success. Despite becoming the world's largest car exporter and producing global leaders like BYD and Geely, the industry is trapped in a destructive spiral threatening widespread bankruptcies.
Europe's automotive industry has issued a unified call for the European Union (EU) to recalibrate its green transition strategy, with leading manufacturers and suppliers expressing growing concerns about the feasibility of current electrification timelines and regulatory frameworks.
South African business sentiment deteriorated further in the third quarter of 2025, falling one point to reach 39, well below the long-term benchmark of 42 points, as punitive US tariffs took their toll on exporters, Reuters reported on Wednesday
