by Ntandoyenkosi Ncube

JOHANNESBURG, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese automotive brands are playing an increasingly vital role in South Africa's pre-owned vehicle sector, offering consumers newer, feature-rich options and driving intense competition across one of the country's most vibrant retail segments.

This structural market shift is driven by the expanding footprint of Chinese vehicle marques, which are rapidly capturing market share and redefining the concept of value for local motorists.

According to the latest data from AutoTrader South Africa, average pre-owned car prices remained resiliently higher year-on-year during the first four months of 2026, despite an increasing presence of Chinese models. This trajectory indicates a robust secondary automotive market that is simultaneously benefiting from broader consumer choices and heightened manufacturer competition.

In January, the average used-car price rose to 430,165 rand, up from 415,770 rand (about 23,300 U.S. dollars) during the same period last year. Consistent year-on-year growth was sustained through February, March, and April, highlighting the underlying strength of the industry.

AutoTrader CEO George Mienie noted that these indicators point to an evolving ecosystem. "The data proves that while average used-car prices remain high year-on-year, the marketplace is growing noticeably more competitive," Mienie said.

Chinese manufacturers are commanding a growing share of both pre-owned supply and demand, with a heavy emphasis on the hyper-competitive SUV and crossover categories. Models like the Haval Jolion, Haval H6, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, and Omoda C5 are going head-to-head with legacy global brands across price points, mileage, age, and standard specifications.

Market data from April indicated that the Haval Jolion recorded an average pre-owned price of 302,782 rand, compared to 393,328 rand for the Toyota Corolla Cross. The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro averaged 267,234 rand against the Kia Sonet's 317,779 rand, while the Omoda C5 averaged 345,966 rand compared to 363,667 rand for the Mazda CX-30.

The rising appeal of Chinese vehicles stretches far beyond baseline affordability.

AutoTrader listings from April revealed that the average Chinese-branded used vehicle possessed a registration year of 2024 and an odometer reading just under 29,000 kilometers. Conversely, non-Chinese pre-owned vehicles averaged a 2020 registration year with more than 72,000 kilometers of mileage.

This combination of recent model years, minimal wear, and high levels of standard equipment is allowing Chinese brands to reshape luxury and value expectations among South African motorists.

"Consumers are not necessarily looking to spend less money; instead, they are looking to maximize the value they get for their spend," Mienie added.

This swing in consumer sentiment is backed by concrete sales volume. Pre-owned sales of Chinese vehicles on the AutoTrader digital platform surged from 6,314 units during the first four months of 2025 to 10,295 units during the corresponding period in 2026. This pushed their total used-car market share up from 4.9 percent to 7.2 percent.

Combined pre-owned sales for front-running Chinese models, including the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, Haval H6, Haval Jolion, and Omoda C5, climbed to 3,686 units between January and April, up from 2,459 units in 2025.

The broader secondary market retained a highly active tempo, with overall platform sales rising from 128,309 units in the first four months of 2025 to 142,663 units over the same period this year.

Mienie concluded that the rapid ascent of Chinese carmakers is a net-positive disruption for the local automotive sector.

"Chinese brands are injecting healthy choice into crucial buying segments, which forces a re-evaluation of value benchmarks," he said. "This creates more stock variety and fierce competition, which ultimately serves the consumer well."

The latest metrics point toward a resilient secondary vehicle sector, with Chinese manufacturers acting as an influential catalyst in steering buyer preferences and sustaining growth across core automotive tiers. ■