JAC Targets African, Middle East Auto Markets

Leading Chinese automaker, JAC, has expressed its intention to look into the Middle East and African markets to boost its sales.

The company says it plans to focus on young, tech-savvy and style-conscious drivers in the two markets.

This, Business Post learnt, brought about the launch of JAC’s S2 model SUV at the Cairo Automech auto show in March.

With a stylish and sporty exterior, high-end specifications, outstanding off-road performance and reasonable price tag, the S2 is expected to repeat the sales success of the S3, which has sold over 300,000 vehicles globally since its release nearly two years ago.

The S3 has sold particularly well in Egypt since its launch there last July, passing 100 vehicles per month.

In terms of commercial vehicles, JAC recently celebrated its 300,000th high-end light-duty truck sold. As it is known, JAC has sold over 300,000 high-end light duty trucks internationally over the last 14 years.

In the South American market it has made a great impression, with the best-selling Chinese models in Chile, Peru and Colombia, among others.

Due to its excellent reputation and high-quality products, JAC has also entered the highly competitive Southeast Asian market, which has been dominated by Japanese brands for a number of decades. JAC’s Euro V light-duty truck has also entered large and developed auto markets such as Turkey and Mexico.

JAC also plans to expand its international exports of electric vehicles (EVs) in the coming months. In April JAC’s EVs became the third best-selling electric models worldwide, with 2,331 vehicles sold that month.

Supporting the evolution of this high-growth sector, JAC has continually developed its electric vehicles, boosting its sales by 400% compared with the same period last year.

In particular, the IEV 6S, launched at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show, has received much acclaim from customers for its stylish exterior and eco-friendly technology. The IEV 6S is the first pure electric model to be released in China, equipped with an advanced Samsung lithium battery, and with a range of up to 300km.

During the first half of the year JAC has sold 333,639 vehicles, an increase of nearly 15% from the same period last year, according to data from the China Automobile Association. The S3 model has performed particularly well, selling 97,457 units during 2016, winning an award as the H1 SUV sales champion in China.

Industry experts have put JAC’s recent success down to its focus on quality products and high level of customer care.