New Car Brand Omoda Touches Down in South Africa

The Omoda car brand, which is a subsidery of Chery, is set to launch in South Africa, with the company’s Omoda C5 being the flagship vehicle.

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The Omoda C5, will become available mid-April and will be sold through 30 pre-selected dealers covering all major metros and cities. Each dealer has been pre-selected to offer a dedicated range of sales and support services to Omoda customers and each has invested in the range of dedicated diagnostic and support services required.

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“Omoda is a new, modern and luxurious new vehicle brand that showcases what can be done when a brand is not hindered by legacy technology or design,” says Tony Liu, the Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa. “Every aspect of this range of products, from vehicle design, performance, technology and driving pleasure, has been designed from a clean slate and will truly surprise and delight South African motorists,” says Liu. Making up the name Omoda is the O for oxygen, new life and vitality and the term “moda” refers to ‘modern’ and the fashion-forward characteristics of the new brand.

Omoda C5

As the first model to showcase for Omoda, the Omoda C5 is the brand’s SUV. To create this sporty and unique new SUV, the Omoda C5 features a more punctuated take on the sport utility vehicle. Each element, including the liquid lines of the diamond matrix grille that flows seamlessly into the lights and shoulder line, has been conceptualised exclusively for Omoda. Among the many unique features of the first model – the Omoda C5 – are a rounded glasshouse with imperceptible edges and lines, a wedge-shaped roofline that flows from the bonnet to the pinched rear quarter and the use of thin, arrow-shaped head- and tail lamps with next-generation smart LED illumination. Among the many interior innovations inside this five-door cross-over SUV is ambient lighting with near-infinite colour combinations, a clean centre console with intelligent interactive switchgear and wireless charging and dual integrated 10.25-inch screens that incorporate the vehicle and entertainment information.

Future-proof

While the range and line-up of the new Omoda C5 will be revealed at the end of this month, it is worth noting that the Omoda C5 is built on the Chery Group’s T1X platform. This platform not only has an industry-leading weight and rigidity rating, but it offers sportscar levels of grip and handling without the harsh ride that is often associated with that category of vehicle. The T1X platform is also known globally for its innovative design that allows for the future use of any form of propulsion, be it internal combustion petrol and diesel engines, battery-electric systems or even hydrogen propulsion.

Pricing speculation

Official South African pricing for the Omoda C5 hasn’t been confirmed as of yet, but it retails for $29,900 AUD in Australia, which converts to around R360,000. So, while nothing is confirmed, the price-point could be around that mark.