It's official the first-ever vehicle confirmed to be assembled in the newly acquired Chery Rosslyn plant has been named. The OMODA C4 will wear the badge of honor as the first model to be made on South African soil.
“Investing in local production is a decision about the kind of business we want OMODA & JAECOO to become in South Africa,” said Shannon Gahagan, Head of Brand and Marketing for OMODA & JAECOO South Africa. “The C4 will give us a place in the country’s manufacturing industry, while its petrol, hybrid and fully electric range will give our customers greater choice when buying an OMODA.”
The Chery Group completed the acquisition of Nissan South Africa's Rosslyn manufacturing facility earlier this year. Preparations for production include planned infrastructure and utility upgrades, alongside a localisation programme to develop the South African supplier base and increase the proportion of locally sourced components used in vehicle manufacturing.
We first got to see and get a first hand drive of the C4 model in our travels to China with the OMODA & Jaecoo team, it is then that they placed emphasis on how this model would be very important for them. As a quick refresher, the C4 model was unveiled to the media early last year as the next model to slot in between the C5 and bigger Dashing models but set to appeal to a more younger and youthful audience.
The vehicle also debuts the brands newer design language that does away with curves in exchange for more sharper and striking edges under the " "Cyber Mecha" design philosophy. Engine options are yet to be confirmed however you can suspect the good old 1.5l petrol setup to make an appearance under the hood however the brand also emphasizes that there would be great variation to meet the different needs of the certain market by making the model available in internal combustion engines (ICE), traditional hybrids (HEV), and fully electric (BEV) options.
Inside, a wraparound cockpit continues the futuristic theme, with technology focused on connectivity and everyday convenience. Features showcased internationally include a 13.2-inch central display, a 540-degree panoramic camera system and 50 W wireless charging.
Further information on the South African C4 range, including final specifications, pricing and launch timing, will be announced closer to its local introduction.