14/11/2025
So, You're Buying Chinese. Now What?
Buying a new car in South Africa? The old rules are out. Your first big decision isn't what colour to get; it's a simple, new binary: Chinese, or not Chinese?
Meet the new normal. With GWM, the Chery Group, and BYD shaking up the showrooms, the choice is overwhelming. But after you've been tempted by the price, the real question hits: how do you pick one that’s not just a flash in the pan? How do you find one with real-deal stability and verifiable value?
This means looking past the shiny badge and asking three critical questions.
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟏: 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲... 𝐎𝐥𝐝?
First, let's talk history. And no, not a boring lesson. We’re talking about Stability and Global Heritage.
A new badge is exciting, sure. But the smart money looks for staying power. We say: look for generational commitment. Does the company's family tree look more like Mercedes-Benz or Ford than a two-year-old start-up? A deep corporate lineage is your assurance that they plan on sticking around.
While you're at it, check if they’re a Fortune Global 500 giant. That’s the kind of financial muscle you want backing your new ride.
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟐: 𝐈𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭... 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡?
Next up: Engineering and Technological Depth. This one’s simple. Where are they doing their homework?
You want to see R&D centres in the big leagues - think Japan, the USA, the UK, and Italy. That’s not for show. It guarantees your car was engineered to demanding international standards.
And here’s a big one for us in SA: Is that tech actually useful here? One OEM is pioneering the Range Extender Electric Vehicle system. This isn't some fantasy-land EV. It’s a smart answer to our... let's call it unreliable power grid and patchy charging network. That move alone gives them a massive advantage in the new energy game.
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟑: 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠?
Finally, Local Commitment. Global power means nothing if the local dealership is a mess and you can't get parts.
You should be demanding state-of-the-art dealerships and strong supply chain networks. Look, everyone wants them to build a billion-rand factory here today. But let's be realistic. Even the established players took decades before committing to South African manufacturing. It makes business sense to test the waters first.
So, the expectation should be fair: as these Chinese brands grow, their local footprint and manufacturing investment must grow too. We’re watching. Because, like any advanced brand, they have to prove their local service, parts, and software will be strong nationwide.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥
So, there you have it. The brand you pick should tick all, or at least most, of these boxes. Yes, aesthetics and price are vital - but that’s all you. These fundamentals, however, are the only sound basis for investing your hard-earned money.
Here’s the fascinating part. When you actually apply this tough checklist, the results are illuminating. It's not to say other brands aren't impressive in their own right - the new automotive landscape is proof that they are. But clearing this specific, high bar of all three foundational criteria (generational stability, global-standard engineering, and forward-thinking local solutions) is a monumental task.
Based on our research, one OEM does manage to stand apart by ticking every single box. And here's the kicker: its history stretches all the way back to 1862. Yes, 1862!
This company has perfectly merged that deep, verified heritage with cutting-edge global engineering and genuinely pioneering local innovations like the REEV system.
This complete package is what places Changan South Africa in a unique position. It isn't just succeeding on price; it's succeeding on the fundamentals, making it, for now, the standout that proves it's comprehensively equipped to challenge Mainstream manufacturers head-on.
