Silk road

Two brands debuting in South Africa also happen to compete in the same segment. Here's our verdict on the new Omoda 5 and BAIC Beijing X55

Led by Haval and closely followed by the arrival of a wholly reimagined Chery brand, a raft of surprisingly impressive Chinese-built passenger vehicles has appeared on South African roads seemingly overnight. Providing appeal through both their difficult-to-ignore value propositions and a growing reputation for genuine under-the-skin substance, such has been the impact of these two brands alone on monthly car sales that Haval (even without its GWM parent company) regularly places among the top ten best-selling manufacturers in the country, with Chery currently hovering one spot away from breaking into this list.

What of the two newest Chinese brands to have launched in South Africa, though, and where do BAIC and Omoda's latest offerings place within the highly competitive SUV segment and against one another?

Marketed separately (through shared showrooms) from its parent company, the Omoda brand is the more sophisticated, stylish offshoot of Chery's current portfolio. While we can expect to welcome at least three more products into South Africa in the coming year (Omoda 3, 7 and 9), the striking 5 is tasked with getting the ball rolling, generating intrigue and sales interest.

Founded in 1958, the Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC) has been prospering within its home market by not only expanding its own portfolio of products but also assembling vehicles domestically in China for Daimler. Within its own stable, the Beijing brand is marketed as the more upmarket of its products, with the X55 compact SUV being the first model from this subbrand to launch in South Africa. With a factory already built in Coega outside of Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, BAIC has plans to assemble cars in South Africa in the coming months.

Strike a pose
OMODA 5 C5 LUX S