We don’t get the E5 yet, so that’s not relevant to the SA market just yet. You don’t have to trust what I say, but let me also say that not everyone you come across spews shit out their mouth. If something isn’t true I won’t mention it. Simple. Maybe you’ve had people in the past bullshitting stuff and that’s a shame, but not everyone is that way.
Now, I’m hesitant to say where and what I do because of past experiences just like this one, you’ll just have to be okay with me not handing out that info, sorry. What I will say is I work FOR an OEM in SA. Not an appy or a random shithead, or a janitor - just so we’re clear, and the passive aggressiveness can be put aside now.
Quite a few of the PHEVs on sale in SA that are not BYDs, utilise batteries and battery technology from BYD - now I don’t have official documentation or the likes because it doesn’t exist in that manner obviously, but I have seen the batteries and attended enough technical OEM training to know (and have been told by OEM technical managers) where the batteries come from, and yes they are honest enough to tell us that many are from BYD. Now, all kudos to BYDs battery tech, but that is not where it ends is it. The vast majority of consumers are price, value and backup conscious. Back to the original argument I made was that if you compare the products (this can be done online via downloading spec sheets) of similar PHEVs between BYD and the rest who offer PHEVs you will see my argument come to life. Simply put, BYD should be offering the best value, product backup and most affordable models to the SA market using their own technology, but, there are other OEMs using their tech and offering better value and backup of the product.
The plot will further thicken when more OEMs start offering BEVs and the comparisons can then be taken further. Right now, BEV options are not that abundant in this market but they are coming from a few different OEMs soon enough.
I’d be happy to share more details with you guys “offline” or on a direct message. I cannot just splurge out the finer details on a public platform unfortunately.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Perhaps a bit of self-reflection is needed before labelling others as passive-aggressive. Resorting to DARVO tactics when challenged doesn't change the facts it just halts productive conversation.
Comparing spec sheets tells you very little, which is exactly why anecdotal, real-world threads like this one are valuable. They offer insights from drivers without an 'axe to grind' or a sales commission to earn or a bag to earn for regurgitating a press release. We’ve seen this cycle before: it happened with the first wave of Chinese imports and with Korean manufacturers two decades ago. A warranty is only as good as its fine print and the actual ownership experience. I’ve had an Elantra and a Cerato in the family that proved 'incredible' warranties often mask abysmal interior quality (despite looking pretty in pics) and difficult claims processes as well as sub-standard repair/diagnosis processes. I also have seen that people have vastly different standards and also that they will defend 'their team' or 'their decision' almost blindly.
Value is subjective, but 'product backup' is a question mark. While BYD shows promise through Chinese government backing and poached European design talent, Chery’s track record remains concerning to say the least. If you indeed work for Chery, then I would be very hesitant to be telling people to go do their research on them.
Hellopeter is one thing since they are all pretty bad and people go there to complain (
https://www.hellopeter.com/chery-sa) ,
But they are also poor on safety (Feb 2026:
https://aa.co.za/aa-raises-serious-...res-two-stars-for-adult-protection-in-africa/ )
,poor on build quality - some time back there were welds failing and rear suspension detaching while driving (May 2024
https://www.carmag.co.za/news/chery-malaysia-recalls-omoda-5-urgent-safety-concern-sparks-action/ )
When it comes to trust, these upstanding corporate citizens said that fortunately SA market cars were unaffected despite coming from the same factory, made with the same steel, on the same assembly lines by the same equipment and people

You'll never guess what happened next!!! Maybe you must go and do your research or ask your technical folks to spoon feed you something? Spoiler below:
and parts support is poor (usually coupled with a complaint about the car feeling unsafe from what I've skimmed). I suppose if the part to be changed is basically the entire bottom rear of the car, it might be tough?
Their initial quality scores are only an indication of VERY early ownership experience and is something gamed by virtually all manufacturers these days. During this time it is still in the honeymoon phase for most owners and if you have issues in this period of time you've got some serious issues. It's the same hook Koreans used 15 years ago already with their 'refresh' of image. We have seen this movie before.
Good reviews are from the least credible, paid mouthpieces in SA/Aus etc. and even they get their reservations out (even despite the price) in a "PR friendly" way. I have read (or watched, I don't recall) one saying that one of these products had a terrible safety rating but because the equivalent Mahindra didn't even have a rating so you're good to go. The depths to which media and influencers will sink these days is crazy.
Either way, my view is that the Jaecoo/Omoda brands exist to wash away the sour taste of Chery. You are seeing a trial spike with EVs and Chinese brands right now. We are willing to give them a chance again and there is interest, but once bitten twice shy applies after both Korean and Chinese prior experiences. This lasts for many years and has happened before. There are 'traps' (eg poor resale value) that keep you trapped in it because you'll often only get a decent trade in at the place that sold it to you, if you are not upside down on the too-good-to-be-true finance deal and there is no way to transfer your warranty to the next owner either. The backup 'vanishes' by design as soon as it becomes a 'used' car. Very few will likely never get the full benefit of the warranty (if it does indeed cover anything meaningful).
This keeps the train going but it comes to an end eventually.
The battery maker argument in this context is flawed and weak IMHO. Vertical integration on batteries doesn't negate the motor tech, number of motors, quality of materials, type of suspension, sheer size etc. Being a battery supplier doesn't automatically mean you have to be the cheapest carmaker.
You can report my post to
@KPM3_30 if it offends you further.