Jetour T2 takes 2026 Car of the Year title

May 28, 2026 2026 South African Car of the Year, South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ), Old Mutual Insure, Jetour T2,

Jetour T2 takes 2026 Car of the Year title

The Jetour T2, launched into South Africa in October last year, has won the 2026 South African Car of the Year sponsored by Old Mutual Insure and announced by the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) last night. This victory marks a historic milestone, with the brand becoming the first Chinese automotive manufacturer to claim the prestigious title in the competition’s 40-year history.

The T2 faced tough competition - from an initial pool of 55 qualifying vehicles, the field was narrowed to 30 semi-finalists before 18 finalists were announced in January this year. The finalists then underwent rigorous evaluation by a 25-member jury panel, supported by three trainee and associate jurors, during a three-day testing programme at Zwartkops Raceway and surrounding routes.

The judging criteria spans a wide range of factors, including innovation and technology, safety, performance, overall quality, value for money and competitive pricing. Vehicles are also assessed on customer relevance, sales success, practicality and suitability for South African driving conditions, ensuring winners reflect both market appeal and real-world excellence.

Jetour’s rapid rise into the list of best-selling automotive brands in South Africa highlights the rate at which Chinese manufacturers are reshaping the local market, having moved from niche brands only few years ago to mainstream players within the local market. This shift reflects a broader industry trend, with these brands offering customers more choice and rich feature sets, increasingly challenging established legacy brands on innovation, technology, and performance. 

Since launching late last year, sales of the Jetour T2 have already exceeded 4 000, with the brand also launching the T-Series i-DM models last month. Last month, Jetour was ranked eighth overall in South Africa’s top-selling automotive brands. “The Jetour T2 was always designed to be a disruptive product. This win is a defining moment not only for Jetour, but for the South African automotive industry as a whole,” says Nic Campbell, Vice President of Jetour South Africa. “To be named South African Car of the Year in such a competitive field, and to be the first Chinese brand to achieve this in the competition’s four-decade history, speaks volumes about how far the brand has come in a very short space of time, the quality product we are offering and how seriously we are being taken.”

“We have made a significant commitment to local customers and dealers, with strong parts availability already in place and a growing national network to ensure long-term confidence in the brand. With over 55 dealers and extensive parts stockholding in-country, we are building a foundation designed for sustained growth and customer peace of mind,” Campbell adds.At last night’s awards, the Jetour T2 also won best in the Mild Adventure category, with other categories including Compact, Family, Premium, Adventure and Performance, with two out of the 6 categories going to Chinese brands. 

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• 2026 South African Car of the Year, South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ), Old Mutual Insure, Jetour T2,