New to South African shores, the Chinese Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) giant is looking to duplicate the success they've had in Asia and become a leader in South Africa's SUV market. Their unified brand message shows these intentions, emphasising that they are the 'SUV leader' in all of their communications.
Haval offers five models in South Africa, each focused on a specific SUV segment. The brand is owned and managed by the Chinese automotive giant, Great Wall Motors (GWM), which has been present in South Africa since 2007.
Haval's success in China has been astonishing and clearly marks them as a leading SUV brand; according to Haval, they have been the best-selling SUV brand in China for 16 consecutive years.
Haval was founded in 2002 as a luxury SUV offering from GWM. Initially, Haval models were sold solely under the GWM banner, but the brand became an independent operation in 2013. To mark this occasion, Haval entered the Dakar Rally, and in 2014, won the first stage of the race before going on to finish in the top 10 that same year.
Today, the Haval brand is sold in over 16 countries across the world, including Russia, Australia, and Saudi Arabia.
Haval South Africa is managed in partnership with its parent company GWM South Africa, and shares its dealerships and service centres with other third-party dealerships nationwide. Here are the models currently available in South Africa:
|
Model |
Category |
|
H1 |
Compact SUV |
|
H2 |
SUV |
|
H6 |
SUV |
|
H6 C |
SUV |
|
H9 |
SUV |
All Haval vehicles are manufactured and imported from China. Unfortunately, Haval Motors does not partake in NAAMSA sales figures reports and does not release its sales statistics, so it's tough to say just how well they perform in South Africa. However, considering their success in Asian markets and their continued presence in our country, it's assumed that they see South Africa as a growing market.
Haval has relied heavily on the success of the H2 model, which introduced the brand to South Africans. It's an SUV designed to contend in the fiercely competitive entry-level SUV market, providing plenty of features and specifications at a competitive price.
Among these features are Bluetooth, leather interior trim, dual-zone automatic climate control, push start, keyless entry, and tyre pressure monitoring. Exterior features include daytime running lights, courtesy lamps that illuminate the sides of the road and paving when entering or exiting the vehicle, and foldable electric mirrors.
The H2 is powered by a 1.5L petrol engine which produces 105kW and 202Nm of torque and is available with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
The Haval H2 retails from R259,900.
To make the brand even more attractive to the local market, Haval offers extensive warranties and service plans on their models, with added 24-hour roadside assistance in partnership with the Automobile Association.
Being a new automotive brand in South Africa and working through a third-party and shared service network, car insurance quotes may vary considerably due to the risk of parts availability and differing service costs. Your best bet is to compare quotes from multiple insurers to make sure you get the best deal on your Haval insurance.
For information on other vehicle manufacturers visit our car guide.
Sources: Haval South Africa; Wikipedia
Information provided for informational purposes. Prices quoted correct at the time of publishing this article.
