Jetour South Africa is facing renewed scrutiny over the payload ratings of its T1 and T2 SUVs after recent weighbridge tests produced mixed results.

Jetour confirmed in August that the approved payload capacity for relevant T1 and T2 models had been revised to 475kg, including the driver. The company said the change followed engagement with Jetour Head Office and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications.

Jetour also said no mechanical, structural or component changes were required for the revised rating to apply.

Jetour says 475kg rating is approved

According to Jetour South Africa, the revised 475kg figure applies to qualifying new and existing T1 and T2 vehicles covered by the NRCS approval.

The company also said it was working with local licensing authorities to have the updated capacity reflected on existing vehicles.

However, the Automobile Association of South Africa questioned how the payload capacity could increase from earlier figures of about 300kg to 475kg without physical changes to the vehicles.

The AA said the issue required independent verification and raised concerns about whether the revised figures accurately reflected the vehicles’ safe load-carrying limits.

Weighbridge tests raise new questions

According to the AA, five Jetour T1 and T2 derivatives were recently tested at the Clayville Testing Centre in Gauteng, with the NRCS present.

Bizcommunity reports that the measured payload variances ranged from 455kg to 538kg.

The T1 Odyssey 2.0TD recorded 538kg, while the T1 PHEV measured 508kg. The T2 Odyssey recorded 500kg and the T2 PHEV 478kg.

The T2 Xplora 2.0T recorded 455kg, which is 20kg below Jetour’s stated 475kg figure.

T1 approval status questioned

The AA has also said the NRCS confirmed that Jetour’s revised T1 payload application was still being processed.

That claim has not been independently published by the NRCS, so it remains attributed to the AA.

Jetour’s earlier statement, however, said the revised 475kg payload applied to relevant T1 and T2 models following NRCS approval.

The AA has called for clearer guidance for owners, particularly where vehicle licence discs may still reflect older weight ratings.

For now, the dispute remains unresolved, with Jetour standing by its revised payload figures while the AA continues to question how the increases were approved.