Haval set to take SA market
LOCAL SUBSIDIARY: EXPECT A RAFT OF NEW MODELS
The charming Chinese SUVs come with 6-speed manual of automatic drives.
GWM is dead. Long live GWM. But wait, let us qualify that. Great Wall Motors’ vehicles are alive and well in South Africa, as GWM now enters its 10th year on the local market having sold over 55 000 vehicles through its 40-plus dealerships across the country.
But now it’s fully controlled by the Chinese parent company, and the local subsidiary has been branded Haval Motors South Africa.
So customers can look forward to an ongoing raft of continually updated GWM products, which includes the reintroduction of the H5 and H6 SUVs, as well as the advent of refreshed Steed bakkie line-ups.
In addition premium Haval products are set to be rolled out – starting with the Haval H2 due out at the end of this month.
Haval is the premium subbrand of GWM, and while the name might still be strange to South African tongues (it rhymes with “gravel”), it’s massive in its home market of China, having achieved sales of over one million units last year.
The H2 the growing market for sub-compact SUVs. Powering the H2 is a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol motor making 105kW and 202Nm of torque.
Drive is to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, and equipment levels are stellar, with everything from durable, man-made leather upholstery to a high-resolution touchscreen infotainment system.
At the same time as the H2 the smaller H1 crossover will debut.
Both the Haval and GWM brands seem set to soar on the value-hungry local market with a standard, five-year/100 000km warranty only sweetening the appeal of GWM’s Steed 5 D/C, Steed 6 D/C, H5 and H6 products, as well as on all Haval vehicles.
All Havals come with a fiveyear roadside assistance package.
“The South African market plays an important part in our international expansion strategy,” says Charles Zhao, managing director of Haval Motors SA.
“And going forward we will continue to distribute Haval and GWM vehicles, offer parts and service support as well as administer warranties through the already established dealer network.”