Chinese contenders dominate eligibility list for South Africa’s Car of the Year

Chinese car manufacturers appear set for their most influential participation yet in the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists’ Car of the Year competition as their expanding footprint in the local market begins to translate into a stronger presence in this prestigious event. With sales rising and brand recognition increasing, their representation on the list of eligible vehicles has reached a new high.

The Car of the Year competition is currently in its voting phase, during which members of the Guild each have 25 votes to assign to vehicles from a pool of 40 new models launched in South Africa during the year. The process does not guarantee that 25 finalists will emerge, as the final list is shaped by the percentage spread between all entries. The shortlisted finalists will later be evaluated by an elected jury that will ultimately select the overall winner. The reigning titleholder is the locally manufactured BMW X3.

This year, 27 of the 40 eligible models come from Chinese manufacturers, making it the largest representation these brands have ever achieved in the competition’s initial round. The scale of their involvement prompts speculation on whether they will convert this strong showing into finalist positions and possibly challenge for the overall crown.

The Chinese models eligible for the title include the BAIC B30, a broad selection from BYD’s Sealion range, the BYD Dolphin Surf, several offerings from Changan including the Alsvin, CS75 Pro, Deepal S07 and Hunter, and models from Chery such as the Tiggo 7 PHEV and Tiggo 9. Geely features with two E5 variants, while GWM is represented by the Haval H7. Additional brands on the list include Jaecoo, Jetour, LDV Auto, Leapmotor’s C10 REEV and MG with the Cyberster, HS, MG3, ZS and ZS Pro, along with Omoda’s C7.

Recent sales figures show that around 15 per cent of new passenger vehicles sold in November were Chinese. Strong performers included the Chery Tiggo 4, the Haval Jolion, the Omoda C5, the Jetour T2 and the Chery Tiggo 7, with many models achieving sales in the hundreds. Their rise in the competition is also evident, with four Chinese finalists in the previous round compared with two the year before.

Finalists for the 2025 to 2026 competition will be announced early next year. Chinese brands are also gaining recognition elsewhere, competing in Nigeria’s Car of the Year awards where the Changan CS55 seeks to repeat its remarkable 2024 victory.

Image: AI generated