Author: Chery Sandton

VIEW 6 MONTH FREE INSURANCE OFFER

One innovative brand deserves another, so it is no surprise that Chery South Africa has chosen to sponsor the Absa RUN YOUR CITY series.

The Absa RUN YOUR CITY series is one of the most popular 10 km road race series in South Africa and it has grown exponentially since the first event was held in 2015.

The series has also evolved from road running only to include a number of mountain bike, trail running and women only races with additional sponsorships from brands such as Savannah, THIRSTI, Fedhealth and Totalsports.

RUN YOUR CITY was created by Michael Meyer and the team at Stillwater Sports.

The first event kicked off last weekend with a 10 km run through Cape Town city. This race, like every other event in the series, has been created to be flat and fast and to travel past well-known landmarks, with entertainment and live performances along the way.

“It is a pleasure to announce this association. We believe that mass participation events such as the Absa RUN YOUR CITY series, is enjoyed by all in South Africa. Chery wants to make a difference in South Africa and wishes to create memorable experiences for all South Africans,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa.

Chery’s participation in the RUN YOUR CITY series includes the provision of lead and logistical support vehicles and a massive vehicle display for competitors and their friends and family at the registration stations and at the start and finish.

“We were immediately impressed with the team at Stillwater Sports. They have a fresh outlook on outdoor events and believe in quality and professionalism, which are two of our core qualities at Chery South Africa,” says Bianca van Staden, National Marketing and Brand Manager of Chery South Africa.

“We also love the events for their focus on an active lifestyle. Our model range consists exclusively of SUVs, and we believe that your car should enable your active family lifestyle. This is why we decided to sponsor and support the RUN YOUR CITY series,” says Van Staden.

A detailed list of the upcoming events, both for cyclists and runners, is available at runyourcityseries.com. Chery South Africa will also keep the public up to date on its social media channels.

Chery has also announced that it has secured a number of tickets and other event-related prizes as part of its sponsorship agreement.

It will share these tickets with customers through the popular #WithCheryWithLove platform as a way of both rewarding its customers and encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle.

“We want to share in each and every customer journey, and take them along on ours,” says Van Staden.

[rev_slider alias=”home-slider-11-1-1″][/rev_slider]

Chery has reaffirmed its commitment to developing and improving on all types of vehicle propulsion with the recent launch of its Chery 4.0 programme.

Named Chery 4.0 Full-field Power Architecture for its reference to four distinct types of propulsion, the programme commits Chery and its thousands of research and development engineers to the development of fuel, hybrid, pure electric and hydrogen power plants. This programme will run from 2021 to 2030.

“The most important part of this new promise of technological development is our commitment to development. Put differently, we are not simply saying that we will continue to manufacture these four distinct types of propulsion, but we will improve on them at every step,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa.

Liu explains that, for instance, in the case of internal combustion and hybrid engines, Chery has been able to increase these engines’ thermal efficiency to 45%. Not only is this level of thermal efficiency well above the industry standard, but it also allowed Chery to offer fuel savings compared to traditional engines and first-generation hybrid systems, by up to 95%.

Chery’s single-minded commitment to developing the best possible propulsion systems was recognised at this year’s China Heart Engine Awards.

China Heart is considered one of the three most authoritative engine awards, alongside the Ward Top Ten Engine Awards and the International Engine of the Year Awards. It has been held for the past 16 years and have featured 9 of Chery’s proprietary engines in the Top 10 Awards.

This year, the awards went one step further by picking the new Chery 2.0T GDI engine as its overall winner.

This petrol engine uses Chery’s second-generation i-HEC combustion system and an ultra-high direct injection system of 350 bars to deliver an impressive 192 kW and 400 Nm of torque. Importantly, the engine has a maximum thermal efficiency of 41%, making it one of the most efficient and strongest pound-for-pound engines in the competition and arguably in the world.

The winning 2.0T GDI engine follows earlier news that Chery has set a new standard for a full hybrid system.

This new Chery Hybrid System uses three electric motors to offer full four-wheel drive, a 0-100 km acceleration in less than five seconds and an average fuel consumption figure of less than 1 litre per 100 km.

The Chery Hybrid system has nine distinct working modes and 11 combined gears for the most optimal performance in any situation.

“With so many innovations, real-world performance and fuel consumption figures that have rarely been seen before and the promise of even more innovation in the new future, Chery has earned the moniker of ‘Technological Chery’ in China. We look forward to showcasing these technologies to our South African customers,” says Liu.

A range of new internal combustion, hybrid and electric options is available on the Tiggo 8 Pro, which is also earmarked for South Africa in 2022.

Ends

For more information, contact:

Bianca van Staden

Brand Manager – Chery South Africa

082 451 1999

biancavs@mychery.com

[rev_slider alias=”home-slider-11-1″][/rev_slider]

• OMODA 5 reveals Art in Motion design language
• Platform is future proof and ready for all propulsion technologies
• New crossover confirmed for global release, including SA, Europe and Australia

Chery has lifted the veil off the production version of its much-anticipated OMODA5 Crossover SUV – and it is destined for South Africa.

The new OMODA 5 was unveiled to great applause at Auto Guangzhou 2021. It introduces a new design language for Chery and symbolises its ambition to create vehicles that successfully cross over between stunning design, leading technology and a truly rewarding driving experience.

Art in Motion

One of the main reasons for the very positive reception of the OMODA 5 is its bold and beautiful design language that deviates little from the first concept models that Chery penned to showcase the Art in Motion design language.

“There are few other industries that have the opportunity to combine beautiful design and mechanical performance like the automotive industry,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager, Chery South Africa.

“Unfortunately, motorists who have been enticed by beautiful and futuristic designs from motor shows are left with very watered-down designs when these designs reach the showroom floor. We are changing that with models like the OMODA 5.”

At the heart of the Art in Motion design philosophy is the idea that a design that is functional can also be incredibly beautiful. And the design has to be touched and seen from outside and experienced behind the wheel.

As such, the OMODA 5 has extremely smooth lines that appear almost liquid, while also introducing a few design firsts to the crossover segment.

These design firsts include a smart play between light and shadow in the flowing and integrated diamond matrix grille that is seamlessly integrated into the front design and that flows almost imperceptibly to the split front LED headlamps and LED daytime running lights.

The same applies to the glasshouse, where the smooth integration between the front windscreen and glossy A-pillars creates a borderless design that is repeated on the side windows and at the rear.

The flowing lines continue unbroken across the side profile and terminate in two distinct rear wings, one at the edge of the roofline and another that integrates the arrow-shaped rear lights. These were designed to lead the eye beyond the vehicle itself and create a promise of movement and an invitation to the driver to get behind the wheel.

Colour blocking

In another page from Chery’s book on Art in Motion is the tasteful and unique use of colour blocking on the exterior design.

A contrasting or complementary second colour is used to highlight some of the most characterful lines to create a bit of visual tension with the otherwise flowing design. This can be seen in the strong line below the doors, in the highlights on the slim side mirrors, in the wheels and, depending on the model, in the flowing roofline and uppermost spoiler.

Welcome inside

The interior of the OMODA 5 promises to be a treat for the eyes as much as the exterior is.

Two integrated and curved 10.25” high-definition digital screens take centre stage and will provide all vehicle and entertainment information, while also offering easy and intuitive controls of driving, comfort and entertainment settings.

The driver and front passenger can expect integrated sport front seats. As is the standard with all Chery vehicles, the cabin will offer a comprehensive list of the most modern technologies and creature comforts.

Every and any power source

One of the clearest indications of Chery’s ambition to become a technological leader is not immediately visible from outside or inside the cabin.

The OMODA 5 platform, being one of the first new models to ride on Chery’s next generation architecture, is immediately ready for both internal combustion engines and new-generation propulsion, such as hybrid, electric or hydrogen systems.

This new platform honours the promise made by Chery of advancing all types of propulsion technologies, including petrol, diesel and electric power.

The OMODA 5’s platform also meets global 5-star safety ratings, proving that performance and adaptability do not have to come at the expense of safety or structural integrity.

“It is very heartening to know that the OMODA 5, like every other new Chery, will be future-proof and that we can support every type of customer requirement, whether that is for powerful and frugal petrol and diesel engines or for quiet and comfortable electric or other propulsion systems,” says Liu.

The Chery OMODO 5 is expected in South Africa in late-2022.

Ends

For more information, contact:

Bianca van Staden

Brand Manager – Chery South Africa

082 451 1999

biancavs@mychery.com

[rev_slider alias=”home-slider-11″][/rev_slider]

• Urban, Comfort, Elite and SE spec levels offer something for everyone
• Normally aspirated and turbo engines available
• 1-million-kilometre engine warranty added free of charge!

 

Chery is entering the compact SUV segment – arguably one of the country’s most hotly contested segments – with a winning combination of style, luxury, and performance.

The company launched the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro with a choice of two petrol engines, three transmissions and three different specification levels. A Special Edition tops the range and adds even more luxury to the standard Urban, Comfort and Elite models.

“There has been a lot of anticipation for the official entry of Chery Automotive to South Africa. We believe that the Tiggo 4 Pro is the perfect foil with which to enter this market, thanks to its highly competitive price positioning, it‘s high specification level and its head-turning design,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa.

Designed to turn heads

There will be no mistaking the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro for any other compact SUV on local roads.

The new model is the flag bearer of Chery’s new design language and proudly carries the Chery logo and large hexagonal grille with unique diamond pattern.

The grille is designed with a multitude of diamond-shaped holes, which narrow towards the logo at the top of the grille to create a three-dimensional effect. Each individual diamond is fitted with chrome brightwork to give the Tiggo 4 Pro a distinct upmarket look and road presence.

The grille is flanked by automatic headlamps – standard across the range – and LED daytime running lights. The lights – halogen on normally aspirated models and LED on turbo models – are contained in clear housings with a bright background dubbed the Chery Crystal Diamond lens design.

A muscular bonnet with strong creases and a lower mounted bumper with additional air intakes and a faux strike plate design round off the top and bottom of the front design.

On the flanks, the Tiggo 4 Pro has deeply sculpted creases above a moulded side skirt, with equally sculpted creases over the front fender and flowing from the rear door handles over the rear fender. These design elements and the standard integrated roof rails combine to create a dynamic and sporty design.

It is worth noting that all models have electrically adjustable side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, while Elite models’ mirrors can also electrically fold inwards in tight spaces.

At the rear, the LED rear lights are housed in sculpted housings that are hollowed out in the middle for a three-dimensional visual effect and to house the brake and main lights and dual rear fog lamps. A chrome strip and large Chery logo connect the rear lights that are fitted above a faux strike plate and dual chromed exhaust outlets.

A high-level LED brake light bar, roof mounted antenna fin and spoiler round off the rear design.

The Chery Tiggo Pro 4 will be fitted with alloy wheels across the range. The Urban and Comfort models are shod with 215/65 rubber on 16-inch alloy wheels, while the Elite and Elite Special Edition (SE) models have 17-inch machined alloy wheels with a dark chrome finish and 215/60 tyres.

Ground clearance varies between 170 mm and 180 mm, depending on the choice of wheel and tyre.

Proprietary petrol performance

Before climbing into the luxury cabin of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, it is worth noting that customers will have the option of two in-house designed 1.5 litre, four-cylinder petrol engines.

The Urban and Comfort specification grades offer the normally aspirated 1.5 litre engine, with 83 kW at 6 150 rpm and 138 Nm of torque at 4 000 rpm. In the case of the Urban grade, the power is delivered to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. The Comfort model is fitted with Chery’s smooth, continuously variable transmission with paddle shifts for manual override mode.

Customers who opt to step up to the Elite and Elite SE model grade have the choice of either a manual transmission with six speeds or the CVT transmission. These models also replace the normally aspirated four-cylinder for a powerful 1.5 turbo-petrol engine.

The Chery 1.5T delivers 108 kW at 5 500 rpm and a maximum torque of 210 in a wide engine speed band between 1 750 rpm and 4 000 rpm.

CVT models fitted with the turbo-petrol engine also have a special Driving Mode selection between Standard, Economical (Eco) and Sport and accompanying steering adjustment modes between Eco and Sport.

Adding to the Tiggo 4’s pedigree are ABS and Electronic Brake Force equipped disk brakes all round with an electronic parking brake, as well as a full complement of electronic vehicle safety systems. These include Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Traction Control (TCS), Roll Stability Control (RCS), Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Hill Assist. All these features are standard across the range.

Digital luxury abounds

While the design and performance of the Tiggo 4 Pro will hold its own in a very crowded SUV market, the interior luxury is what will make it truly stand out.

All Tiggo 4 Pro models have a digital instrument cluster with multi-information readout. On the normally aspirated models, this screen is 3.5” wide with high-definition colours.

The turbo models swop this digital cluster for one double its size. The 7” version not only increases the information real estate, but it offers more display and customisation options, including displaying more information from the mobile phone.

What doesn’t differ between any of the Tiggo 4 Pro models is the beautiful, fast and touch-responsive 10.25” central infotainment system. This system is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports in the front and one in the rear, a DVD player and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity. This system also displays the image from the reverse camera on all but the entry-level Urban model.

In the normally aspirated Urban and Comfort models, the infotainment system is linked to four speakers, while the Elite versions add two more speakers for a more immersive sound experience.

Elite versions also have intelligent voice control built in, with a special semantic processing system that understands many different accents and pronunciations.

Urban and Comfort models are further fitted with a high-output air conditioning system, while the Elite models exchange this for a dual-zone climate control system and standard sunroof. All models have rear air conditioning ducts and are fitted with a sensitive clean-air filter system.[i]

Lastly, the Elite models have full leather upholstery with an electrically adjustable driver’s seat.

A truly Special Edition

While all models, and especially the Elite models, have a very high level of standard equipment and luxuries, the Elite SE makes no compromises.

Stylistically, the SE model adds red detailing on the exterior design. Coupled with both the standard and metallic colours, this red detailing above the front and rear skid plates on the side skirts and the brake callipers ensure that the Tiggo 4 Pro SE stands out from even its siblings.

Inside the cabin, Chery has repeated the red detailing in the contrasting stitching, the door handles and the lower section of the dashboard. Discreet, adjustable, and multi-colour LED lighting inside the cabin is also added as standard to this model.

Rounding off the SE package are puddle lights in the side mirrors and special threshold welcome lights for the driver and front passenger.

Safety and security built in

All Chery models offer a high level of passive and dynamic safety.

All models have all the electronic safety equipment mentioned earlier, including TRC and ESP.

All models also offer keyless access and a Start / Stop button. The Tiggo 4 Pro will lock and unlock automatically as you approach or leave the vehicle, and doors will lock automatically as you drive away.

All models also have a child lock system, a vehicle immobiliser and alarm system and at least two airbags. Elite models are further equipped with front side and curtain airbags for a total of six. These models also have a tyre pressure monitoring system for additional dynamic safety.

Unmatched peace of mind

To add additional peace of mind to customers who opt for one of the modern and stylish Tiggo 4 Pro models, Chery has announced an unmatched 10-year / 1-million-kilometre engine warranty (see separate release).

All Chery Tiggo 4 Pro models are also sold with a 5 year / 60 000 km service plan as standard.

Customers who are keen to view and test the new Chery Tiggo 4 Pro model are invited to visit any of the 30 brand-new Chery dealerships across South Africa.

A full list of Chery dealers is available at www.chery.co.za.

Model range

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 Urban (5MT)

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 Comfort (CVT 9SPD)

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 Elite (6MT)

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 Elite (CVT 9 SPD)

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 Elite SE (CVT 9SPD)

 

Ends

For more information, contact:

Bianca van Staden

Brand Manager – Chery South Africa

082 451 1999

biancavs@mychery.com

Chery South Africa is giving South African motorists a million reasons to choose its modern and stylish SUVs.

The company launched its Tiggo 4 Pro with an astonishing 10-year or 1-million-kilometre engine warranty. This beats not only the best industry warranties by 40% but the distance covered is better by a factor of five.

The warranty has two elements. A standard 5-year / 150 000 km factory warranty applies to all new Tiggo 4 Pro models sold. This warranty remains with the vehicle.

The second, a free extension for another 5 years and a massive 850 000 km focussed on the engine, is added automatically at the end of the first warranty, provided that the vehicle is still owned by the original owner.

As is the standard practice throughout the industry, the warranty requires the service and repair of the vehicle by Chery Dealerships, within Chery standards and using original Chery parts and components.

Added to this incredible warranty, Chery recently announced its agreement with the Automobile Association of South Africa to provide roadside assistance and support for five years unlimited kilometres. This means that Chery owners can expect roadside support – with services ranging from help with flat tyres or batteries to safe overnight vehicle storage in case of an accident.

“In the past decade, Chery has completely reinvented itself as a global design, engineering and manufacturing powerhouse.

“Modern Chery vehicles not only represent the best on offer in terms of technology and performance, but they do so while meeting CNCAP five-star safety standards and with in-house developed engine and drivetrain technology,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa.

At the same time, explains Liu, Chery has partnered with industry leaders like Aisin, Getrag, Bosch and Schaeffler to perfect its internal combustion, hybrid and all-electric powertrains. All this forms part of Chery’s 457 plan, which will see Chery focus on four new energy product platforms, five universal subsystems and seven core technologies, including all types of propulsion.

“We have invested heavily in our own capabilities and now employ over 5 500 people in our Research and Development department that now develops everything from traditional petrol engines to all-electric powertrains, hydrogen systems and even aeronautical engines.

“It is with this in mind that we are supremely confident in offering this decade-long, 1-million-kilometre engine warranty,” says Liu.

To start with, Chery has partnered with 30 dealers across South Africa. It will soon expand its partnership to more dealers with the aim of offering complete coverage of all the major towns and cities and having Chery technical specialists close to all owners for services and warranty support.

“We hope the 1-million-kilometre engine warranty will set the benchmark and that our service and parts support through our dealer network will seal the deal. There is now no reason at all not to test drive a Chery Tiggo 4 Pro,” says Liu.

Ends

For more information, contact:

Bianca van Staden

Brand Manager – Chery South Africa

082 451 1999

biancavs@mychery.com

Chery recently unveiled their new phase of technological development under the title “Chery Power” at the 2021 Chengdu International Auto Show in China.
Going forward, Chery Power will denote the company’s core focus on technological development. This applies both to traditional (internal combustion) and future-proof (electric, hybrid and fuel cell) powered vehicles.
“At our heart, Chery is a technology company. We are investing heavily in vehicle and propulsion technology, including safety systems, new types of engines and electric propulsion and artificial intelligence.
“The success of any innovation that comes from Chery is measured by one thing – if it makes Chery ‘Fun to Drive’,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager, Chery South Africa.
For example, Chery has developed a new range of internal combustion engines that will be available on the next generation of Chery Tiggo models. These engines offer a market-leading thermal efficiency of up to 45% and fuel savings of up to 95% over traditional vehicles with similar outputs.
The new range of engines have resulted from the rapid development of Chery’s internal engineering expertise. This started with the development and production of Chery’s ACTECO engines.
The ACTECO range first rolled off the production line in 1999 in various configurations and it signalled a new era for a Chinese automotive manufacturer with a unique and independently developed engine range that was designed, developed and built completely by Chery.
From this humble start, the ACTECO range and Chery’s range of internal combustion engines have expanded to include engines from 800 cc to 4 litres and over 9.5 million units built and sold. Indeed, this range of engines has received 6 awards in the China Core Awards for Chinese-developed and -built engines.
“At the start of 2021, with the effects of the global pandemic still felt in most international markets, we doubled down on our spending on research and development. This has started paying dividends, with a general increase in sales in all main markets and high praise for the newest iteration of the ACTECO 1.6 TDGI engine,” says Liu.
The 1.6 TGDI engine is found in, among others, the new Chery Tiggo 8 Pro. Now in its third generation, this engine delivers 145 kW and 290 Nm with a thermal efficiency of 37.1%.
The ACTECO engine range in the Tiggo 8 Pro is one of the many reasons why this vehicle was voted the Most High-Tech SUV by the Russian 4×4 Club and the “Media Choice – Midsized SUV” at the Russian SUV of the Year Awards. It was also chosen as the 2020 Chinese National Car of the Year.
“Chery has been a top-seller in Russia for a decade and a half, and the Tiggo 8 Pro is a firm favourite. We look forward to introducing this and other Chery models to South Africa in the coming weeks and months,” says Liu.

Chery believes the future is electric. And petrol and diesel powered. And driven by fuel-cell vehicles. And made for hybrids.

China’s largest exporter of vehicles, with an international client base of close to 10 million owners, recently committed to a comprehensive drivetrain plan that includes all current and future forms of propulsion. This includes petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles, hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), electric (EV) and range-extended electric vehicles (REEV) and fuel-cell driven electric vehicles (FCEV).

Chery renewed this commitment at the recent 2021 Chengdu International Auto Show, where it showcased a range of its newest propulsion systems, several of which will soon also be seen in its new Tiggo range in South Africa.

Says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager, Chery South Africa: “Many people worry that the international drive towards electric vehicles will lead to stagnated development of internal combustion engines.

“There are also concerns about the strain on a country’s electricity grid and the challenges that some countries face where citizens travel great distances or where extreme heat and cold can negatively affect electric operating range.”

It is for this reason that Chery has committed to a 30-year propulsion plan that includes all types of propulsion and accompanying drivetrain development. Dubbed the “457” plan, it will see Chery focus on four new energy product platforms, five universal subsystems and seven core technologies, including all types of propulsion.

At the Chengdu International Auto Show, Chery showed its commitment to this plan with several new drivetrain innovations. Two, in particular, drew international attention, the first being its new 2.0 TGDI turbo-petrol engine.

This engine utilises proprietary technology to deliver best-in-class thermal efficiency for high power output and low fuel consumption. In the Tiggo 8 Pro, this engine will deliver 192 kW and 400 Nm of torque.

“Chery is a leading manufacturer of internal combustion engines, having designed and built over 8.8 million engines, and we will continue with engine development on route to becoming carbon neutral,” says Liu.

The second of many innovations that drew global praise was Chery’s new DHT hybrid architecture.

Utilising many of the electric vehicle innovations and its progress on high-efficiency internal combustion engines, the DHT hybrid platform utilises 11 gears, nine different operating modes and a world-first dual-motor drivetrain to deliver a unique hybrid driving solution for HEV and PHEV models.

This unique hybrid system was showcased at the Chengdu show as fitted to the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV. In this application, the dual-motor system is mounted on both axles to offer effortless four-wheel drive, a 0 – 100 km/h acceleration time in the five-second range and a combined fuel consumption of around 1 litre / 100 km.

“By committing to all types of propulsion for the next three decades, we not only speed up our development of fuel-cell, electric, hybrid and internal combustion engines, but we are able to utilise innovations in one form of propulsion in making another even better.

“For instance, our work on electric vehicles and super-efficient petrol turbo engines has allowed us to build the DHT hybrid platform that will give peerless performance and the lowest real-world consumption in the industry.

“We are carefully studying the relevant legislation related to electric and hybrid plug-in vehicles in South Africa. This will inform our future plans and the possibility of introducing these technologies in the future,” says Liu.

Chery is bound to disrupt the vehicle industry with its leading, new hybrid propulsion system scheduled for production later this year.
Called the Chery DHT Super Hybrid system, it promises to offer class-leading efficiency and power and also a number of world-firsts. This includes a dual-motor system and electric rear axle for effortless four-wheel driving, and performance figures that could hold their own against much larger petrol engine SUVs.
The first version of the Chery DHT Super Hybrid system was produced on 18 May 2021, and the first production versions are expected in Chery models later this year. This will include the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro e+ flagship model.
At the heart of the hybrid innovation is a highly, thermally efficient 1.5 litre turbo-petrol engine. The engine benefits from the same technological innovation that has seen Chery win 6 nominations in the authoritative CHINA HEART Awards for the best Chinese-designed and -produced engines.
The turbo engine is mated to two electric motors and an electric rear axle (in the four-wheel drive system) and two motors in the two-wheel drive version. Acceleration times have been tested as 4.9 seconds for four-wheel drive hybrid Chery models and 7.2 seconds for the two-wheel drive DHT Super Hybrid-powered models.
“The new DHT Super Hybrid system will set a new standard for hybrid and plug-in hybrids when it makes its appearance in the Tiggo. Aside from its high performance, our first real-world testing points to a fuel consumption of 1 litre or less in a combined usage cycle,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager, Chery South Africa.
One of the reasons for the high performance and low fuel consumption is the use of 11 driving modes, which the system can automatically select from. These driving modes include starting, low, medium and high-speed modes, overtaking mode, long-distance mode and even a mountain pass driving mode. By creating very specific settings for each mode, the hybrid system ensures the most efficient and power-optimal setting for every possible driving condition.
The driving modes are linked to nine gears and three propulsion modes (electric only, HEV-Normal and HEV-Sport) for the best performance in any situation.
The system is further linked to the navigation system, and it utilises artificial intelligence to pre-plan the power modes for the route ahead. For instance, if the DHT Super Hybrid system detects traffic on the route, it will pre-select the appropriate power output and driving mode for the lowest emissions and fuel consumption before it even reaches the stretch of traffic.
Chery has tested the system extensively and first reports point to an electric-only range of 100 km and a combined hybrid range of 1 000 km on one tank of fuel.
The hybrid technology was, of course, not developed in isolation of the many other systems being developed by Chery. The insights gleaned from creating the new DHT Super Hybrid system inform developments on the group’s full range of drivetrain and propulsion systems, including internal combustion (ICE), electric vehicles (EV), range-extended electric vehicles (REEV), hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems (HEV and PHEV) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV).
Chery has also developed a range of highly intelligent and adaptive driver assistance systems that are already available in certain Chery models and that will soon be available in the most advanced versions of development, in the new DHT Super Hybrid models.
The range of technologies was developed by Chery, while others were developed in partnership with Baidu. These include artificial intelligence systems linked to facial recognition of the driver, advanced natural language interfaces between the driver and vehicle and an i-Connect digital assistant, called the i-Connect Butler.
“With a high pace of technological development and a vehicle footprint fast approaching 10 million customers, we are able to rapidly test and deploy new technologies that not only offer some of the best performance and lowest fuel consumption, but also the most advanced user interface systems for ease of driving,” says Liu.
Chery South Africa will introduce the first Tiggo models for sale before the end of this year, with several models planned for local introduction in 2022.

The wheels are turning fast at Chery South Africa, which this week signed a binding agreement with WesBank for the provision of financial services to both clients and dealers.

The agreement follows several months of negotiation between China’s leading exporter of vehicles and South Africa’s leading provider of innovative vehicle and asset solutions and includes the provision of comprehensive vehicle finance solutions under the newly created Chery Finance. It will also take care of all asset and dealer floorplan finance through the same alliance.

“For Chery, affordability means much more than just the sales price. We consider the cost of finance, maintenance, and insurance in our calculations, and we want to make sure that it makes sense to our customers on every level.

“With this in mind, we are very proud to partner with WesBank for the creation of Chery Finance. WesBank is known for its innovative approach to vehicle finance and cost competitiveness. This will ultimately benefit our future owners, who are guaranteed to get the best possible deal on their new or pre-owned Chery through Chery Finance,” says Jay Jay Botes, National Sales Manager of Chery South Africa.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday at a small ceremony at the Chery offices in Bryanston, Johannesburg. It will now allow Chery’s sales and dealer development team to implement the finance solution at each of the 30+ dealers that will start trading in November 2021.

“We are proud to be associated with Chery South Africa and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship,” says Ghana Msibi, CEO of WesBank Vehicle and Asset Finance. “In our due diligence prior to creating the Chery Finance alliance, we were impressed with the company’s focus on quality, safety and customer service, and we believe that this will help the company to grow in a market that values these attributes highly.”

The creation of Chery Finance follows on last week’s official announcement of Chery’s establishment in South Africa. This is the first time that the company enters South Africa as a wholly owned subsidiary of the global group, although it has supported the existing owners with parts and service support throughout.

“We are excited to introduce South African customers to our range of modern SUVs. Vehicles like the Tiggo 4 and Tiggo 8 Pro are very popular in every market where they are sold, thanks to their combination of modern technology, powerful engines and unique safety innovations,” says Botes.

“Now we can add to that list the many finance innovations on offer through Chery Finance, including fast online finance applications, immediate vehicle settlement calculations and best-in-class dealer support.”

Chery has completed its local vehicle testing and homologation and looks forward to introducing its first vehicles later this year. This will be followed by a comprehensive range of ultra-modern vehicles in 2022 and the continued growth of the Chery network of dealers.