Rumours abound about Merc’s East London plant
More and more rumours are surfacing about the possible sale, or part sale, of Mercedes-Benz’s East London manufacturing plant.
- Industry News
- 11 March 2026
Chery hit the top spot in the auto category of the prestigious Google X Kantar BrandZ Top 50 Chinese Global Brand Builders for 2024.
This is the second consecutive year that Chery has ranked first among Chinese automotive brands with a global appeal. What makes this especially impressive, is that Google and Kantar included eight Chinese auto brands in its report, the most yet.
The Google x Kantar report is compiled by Kantar, which is an approved and certified third-party measurement partner for brands, agencies and media companies looking to verify their media performance on Google-owned platforms.
This year’s top 50 report spans seven major categories, with the automotive industry overall showing best performance in brand strength and growth. The eight automotive brands that made the list showed an increased brand strength of 51 percent.
“While Chery’s brand value has outgrown that of its peers, it is also very heartening to see that Chinese auto brands, in general, are growing in strength and stature,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa.
Chery’s achievement once again made it clear that value and customer service remain a crucial influence in the purchase decision-making process.
Three-quarters of consumers polled in the report used phrases such as “trust in these brands” and “ability to meet unique demands” when it came to motivate their primary reasons for choosing Chinese brands. These terms were especially prominent in the feedback on Chery, which continues to rise in prominence as a favourite global automotive brand.
Chery’s performance in terms of brand strength is also backed up by its sales numbers.
In 2023, the brand exported a record-breaking 937 148 vehicles, which translates into a 101.1% year-on-year increase. This has ensured that they maintain their leadership position as Chinese passenger vehicle exporter for 21 years. Another record seems to be in the making as Chery has already reported cumulative sales of 902 209 vehicles for the months of January through May 2024, a 51% year-on-year increase.
Through their trusted top product line, Chery Group has built an international customer base of 14 million users. It is especially products such as the Tiggo family of models, which have led to this phenomenal conquest of the market.
More and more rumours are surfacing about the possible sale, or part sale, of Mercedes-Benz’s East London manufacturing plant.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday (10 March) they would not let any oil and other related products out of the Middle East until United States (US) and Israeli attacks cease, prompting US President Donald Trump to threaten to hit Iran "twenty times harder" if it blocked exports.
With tensions and conflict in the Middle East raising concerns about global energy supplies, attention has again focused on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important oil shipping routes in the world.