• Chery South Africa previewed three new energy vehicle models at its New Energy Vehicle Night on 3 July. 
• The Chery Q, Tiggo V and KP31 have been developed for different local needs, from city driving and family travel to outdoor and work applications.
• The event formed part of Chery South Africa’s broader NEV planning and localisation strategy.

Chery South Africa has provided a first look at the next phase of its new energy vehicle strategy, previewing three future-focused models at its New Energy Vehicle Night, hosted at the Chery Rosslyn Plant in Pretoria on 3 July.

The event introduced the Chery Q, Tiggo V and KP31 to guests, highlighting the brand’s approach to electrified mobility in South Africa and its intention to offer products suited to a broad range of local requirements, from daily urban driving and family travel to outdoor leisure and work applications.

The evening also provided an opportunity for Chery South Africa to share more details on its broader new energy vehicle roadmap, including product planning, technology development and localisation strategy. Chery South Africa is retaining all 692 existing employees and, through this investment, supporting nearly 3,000 direct and indirect jobs across the broader supply chain.

Peter Matkin, Executive Director – Engineering at Chery; Zenga Wu, Country Director of Chery South Africa; and Jay Jay Botes, General Manager of Chery and Lepas South Africa, addressed guests during the event. Their presentations outlined Chery’s global NEV direction, the technologies that will support its future model line-up, and the brand’s approach to adapting international products for South African roads, customers and driving conditions.

The three models previewed at the event each represent a different part of Chery’s future NEV offering.

The Chery Q is a fully electric model developed with city driving in mind. Compact and easy to use in urban environments, it also offers practical packaging, with boot capacity expanding from 375 litres to 1,450 litres. This is supported by a 70-litre front trunk and a number of additional storage areas designed for everyday use.

The Q has received a Red Dot Design Award and is equipped with intelligent driver assistance and automatic parking systems, aimed at making commuting, congestion and tight parking situations easier to manage.

Chery also introduced a pre-order package for the Q, which includes a seven-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty, a home charging wallbox and portable charging equipment. Customers will also have the option of choosing between an equivalent charging card or a vehicle price deduction, while a complimentary electric tailgate upgrade will be included as part of the offer.

The Tiggo V has been developed as a larger family SUV, with a flexible three-row, seven-seat cabin and a 2,800 mm wheelbase. Its seating and cargo configurations allow it to be used for everyday family transport, longer-distance travel and occasions where additional load space is required.

The model features a body structure made up of 76% high-strength steel and aluminium, supported by driver assistance systems including Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB).

Power comes from Chery’s sixth-generation CSH hybrid system, while 220 mm of ground clearance, a 30-degree climbing angle and run-flat tyres give the Tiggo V added capability for rougher roads and more varied driving conditions.

The cabin has been designed with family use in mind, offering independent air conditioning for all three rows and an N95-grade high-efficiency filter. Factory-fit lifestyle accessories, including an in-vehicle refrigerator and roof tent, will also be available, further supporting the Tiggo V’s role as a family and leisure-focused SUV.

Chery also previewed the KP31 diesel-hybrid pickup, which has been developed on a dedicated hybrid platform. Designed for work, outdoor and off-grid use, the KP31 features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) external power supply functionality, allowing it to provide power for camping equipment, tools and other external devices.

For Chery South Africa, the preview of these three models marks an important step in the brand’s local new energy vehicle planning. It also reflects the company’s focus on understanding South African driving conditions, customer expectations and usage patterns before introducing products to the market.

This customer-focused approach extends beyond Chery’s vehicles through Chery Family Care, the brand’s global aftersales service programme. From 2026, its Trans-national Warranty Programme will allow customers to access warranty support in markets where Chery has an authorised presence, including across Africa, subject to the terms of the original warranty agreement.

As the local market continues to explore electrified mobility, Chery South Africa plans to expand its offering with vehicles that combine global technology with practical relevance for South African motorists.