Guide to Haval in South Africa

Haval’s roots go back to 2005, when its parent company, Great Wall Motors (GWM), launched the Haval H3 – one of the first home-grown compact SUVs to come out of China. GWM itself had been founded back in 1984 in Baoding, and had spent its early years focused on trucks and pickups before turning its attention to SUVs. The Haval name grew quickly in popularity, and in March 2013 GWM took the bold step of spinning it off from a single product line into its own standalone SUV brand. Freed to build its own identity, Haval went on to launch the H6 – a model that became one of the best-selling SUVs in China and helped drive Haval’s expansion into international markets, including Australia, South Africa, and beyond. In South Africa specifically, GWM first entered the market in 2007 with a line-up of bakkies. Ten years later, in 2017, the local operation was rebranded to HAVAL Motors South Africa, formally introducing Haval as its own dedicated SUV brand in the country. Since then, Haval has grown into one of the fastest-growing brands in the local market, backed by an expanding dealer network.

Haval’s rise in South Africa hasn’t just been about what’s on the showroom floor — it’s also earned respect for what happens after the sale. The brand offers strong warranty coverage, affordable maintenance, and nationwide dealer support that gives owners confidence, whether they’re doing the school run or heading into the Karoo. Most Haval models come with a 5-year / 100,000 km factory warranty and 5-year roadside assistance. Service plans are also included on many models, with maintenance intervals typically every 15,000 km — helping to keep ownership costs under control. Whether you’re navigating rush hour in your H6 or exploring the wild in your H7, hippo.co.za helps make sure your journey is protected.