The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists has revealed the 30 semi-finalists for the 40th edition of the prestigious 2026 Car of the Year competition, with Chinese manufacturers securing a significant presence amongst the contenders.
As predicted a substantial number of Chinese vehicles have made it through from the 55 new model list that qualified for consideration. The semi-finalists, selected through voting by SAGMJ members, span 22 brands and multiple vehicle segments, with the 25-juror panel now tasked with establishing the finalists.
The 2026 COTY competition, which kicked off in early November, is hosted by Old Mutual Insure as title sponsor. Thami Masemola, Chairman of the COTY competition since 2024, said it was a tremendous honour to be part of this significant milestone in SAGMJ's annual competition, which has become widely recognised amongst the motoring public and the broader automotive industry. He added that for the 2026 competition, the stakes are higher than ever, driven by intense rivalry for the hearts and minds of South African car buyers.
The 55 qualifying vehicles launched in 2025 include compact hatchbacks, family SUVs, performance saloons and bakkies. The surge in new-energy vehicles entering the South African market in 2025 has further expanded options, giving prospective customers an unprecedented selection.
Chinese brands featuring in the semi-finalist list include BYD with the Dolphin Surf and Shark, Chery with the Tiggo 7 PHEV and Tiggo 9, GWM with the Haval H7, Jaecoo J5, Jetour T2, Leapmotor C10 REEV, MG Cyberster, MG ZS Pro and Omoda C7.
In January 2026, the COTY Jury will select finalists from the semi-finalist list before conducting an intensive two-day testing process in March. Category winners and the overall winner will be announced in May 2026.
