Jason Woosey|Published
Omoda has confirmed that its all-new C4 crossover will be built at parent company Chery’s Rosslyn plant in Gauteng when it comes on stream in late 2027.
The brand also announced that its C4 would be the very first product to roll off the assembly line at the newly acquired former Nissan plant near Pretoria.
The Chinese auto giant previously confirmed that the similarly sized Chery Tiggo Cross and Jaecoo J5 compact SUVs would also be built at the plant, as will the larger Jetour T2. Recent reports also indicate that the Grootman bakkie was slated for local production, although it will be imported initially.
The new Omoda C4 is aimed at the youth market and features edgy, angular bodywork inspired by the brand’s ‘Cyber Mecha’ design language.
It also features a ‘wraparound’ cockpit with a 13.2-inch central display and 540-degree panoramic camera system.
Omoda has confirmed that the C4 will be offered in petrol, hybrid and fully electric variants in South Africa.
While final specifications have yet to be confirmed, judging by the overseas offerings, the internal combustion model is likely to offer a choice between 1.5-litre naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines.
Pricing and other details will be confirmed closer to launch.
The future direction
In other news, Omoda has shown off its future design direction with the Omoda X concept, which made its global debut in Wuhu, China, this week.
It builds on the ‘Cyber Mecha’ design philosophy that the C4 introduced, aiming to take it in a bolder direction by “combining geometric forms with a more purposeful and rugged appearance”.
Mecha-inspired styling will form a central part of the next generation of vehicles, with the X offering an early look at how that design language will evolve across future models.
Omoda SA’s brand and marketing head, Shannon Gahagan, said the Omoda X “gives us a much clearer view of where the brand is heading from a design perspective”.
The Chinese brand also announced at the Wuhu event that it plans to broaden its international product offering, with 13 new models planned over the next three years as it enters new segments and caters for a wider range of customers.
IOL Business