Jetour is growing so quickly in South Africa that it is now outselling some of the country’s best-known car brands. April 2026 sales data shows the Chinese brand sold more vehicles locally than BMW, Nissan and Mercedes-Benz, marking a striking shift in the passenger car market.

According to the figures, Jetour sold 1,804 vehicles in April. That put it ahead of BMW on 1,366, Nissan on 875 and Mercedes-Benz on 432. On those numbers, Jetour also sold more cars than BMW and Mercedes-Benz combined.

The brand’s rapid growth stands out even more because it only entered the South African market in September 2024. Less than two years later, it is already competing directly with long-established global brands in the local market.

South Africa’s car market is gaining momentum

Jetour’s performance comes as South Africa’s wider vehicle market continues to strengthen. Aggregate domestic new vehicle sales reached 47,979 units in April 2026, which was the best April performance since 2013. That was up by 5,512 units, or 13%, compared with April 2025.

The passenger car market also showed strong growth. New passenger car sales reached 34,414 units, up 14.3% from the 30,113 cars sold in April 2025. Naamsa said the improvement reflected momentum built over previous months, helped by better financing conditions.

Still, the industry body also warned of pressure ahead. It said April marked a turning point in the broader economic environment, with Middle East tensions pushing oil prices higher and raising transport and ownership costs.

Jetour’s local strategy is paying off

Jetour entered South Africa with 40 dealerships and a parts warehouse in Kyalami, Johannesburg. The brand positioned itself to target mid- to high-level consumers looking for comfort, safety, elegance and reliability.

At launch, Jetour South Africa managing director Johnny Fang said the company wanted to reach 800 sales a month within its first year. The latest numbers suggest it has comfortably exceeded that target.

The brand is part of the Chery Holding Group and focuses on crossovers and SUVs. Its growth adds to a broader Chinese push into the South African market, where brands such as Chery, GWM, Omoda, Jaecoo and BYD are also gaining ground.

Traditional brands face sharper competition

Toyota remained the top passenger vehicle seller in April with 9,842 units, followed by Suzuki on 5,363 and Volkswagen on 4,769. But Jetour’s rise shows how quickly the market is shifting.

For South African buyers, that means more choice. For established brands, it means the pressure is growing. Jetour is no longer arriving. It has arrived.