Chery-Backed Lepas Confirms March Entry into South Africa’s Premium SUV Market

Chery-Backed Lepas Confirms March Entry into South Africa’s Premium SUV Market. Premium SUV brand Lepas will enter the South African market in March, becoming the latest Chinese-backed automotive brand to establish a local presence as competition intensifies in the higher-end SUV segment.

Lepas forms part of the Chery Group and will rely on its parent company’s existing after-sales and logistics infrastructure as it prepares for its local rollout. The company said this approach will allow it to utilise established systems rather than developing separate support structures from the outset.

According to Lepas, its South African operations will draw on Chery’s national parts, service, and repair network, which currently supports more than 100,000 vehicles in the country. This includes access to a central parts warehouse measuring over 6,000 square metres and holding inventory valued at more than R180 million. The network also includes a national logistics system capable of supplying major centres within 48 hours.

The company confirmed that Lepas vehicles will be supported through the same parts distribution and roadside assistance platforms currently used for Chery-branded vehicles. These include a 24-hour roadside assistance programme and access to more than 330 certified paint and body repair centres across South Africa.

Jay Jay Botes, general manager of Lepas South Africa, said the strategy of using existing infrastructure is intended to reduce operational risk during the launch phase and ensure reliable after-sales support from day one.

“We are leveraging Chery’s proven systems and expertise, while tailoring the experience to meet the expectations of premium SUV owners in South Africa,” Botes said.

Technical training for Lepas vehicles will take place at existing Chery training facilities in Boksburg and Sandton. Technicians will be trained alongside Chery personnel to ensure service standards align with the brand’s requirements.

Dealership development for the Lepas brand is currently underway. The company said dealership sites are under construction and are expected to be operational in line with the planned March market entry. These dealerships will feature dedicated service centres designed to handle routine maintenance and repairs as vehicle volumes increase.

This expansion reflects continued interest in South Africa as a strategic market for new vehicle brands seeking established infrastructure, broad dealer coverage, and structured after-sales support ahead of competitive launches nationwide presence