Brand Spotlight: Lepas | The New Chinese SUV Brand Coming To South Africa

The New Chinese SUV Brand You Need To Know About

Is Lepas The Next Big SUV Success Story In South Africa?

A few years ago, few South Africans had heard of Chery.

Today, the brand has become one of the country’s fastest-growing automotive success stories, with the Tiggo range helping redefine what buyers expect from a modern SUV.

Now Chery is preparing to launch another brand into South Africa.

Its name is Lepas.

And while it may sound unfamiliar today, the company behind it has very ambitious plans. Lepas aims to become a global premium SUV brand, expanding across dozens of international markets while building on the technology, engineering and manufacturing expertise that made Chery one of China’s largest automotive exporters.

What Is Lepas?

Lepas is a premium SUV brand created by Chery Automobile and launched for international markets. The name combines ideas around “Leap” and “Passion”, reflecting the company’s ambition to create stylish, technology-focused SUVs aimed at younger and more design-conscious buyers.

Unlike Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo and Jetour, Lepas is positioned slightly higher in the market, focusing on premium design, advanced technology and electrified powertrains.

 Lepas Global Launch

Who Owns Lepas?

Lepas is part of the massive Chery Group.

The Chery family now includes:

• Chery
• Omoda
• Jaecoo
• Jetour
• iCar
• Exeed
• Luxeed
• Lepas

What makes this remarkable is that Chery has evolved from a domestic Chinese manufacturer into one of the world’s largest vehicle exporters. In fact, Chery has consistently ranked among China’s leading automotive exporters and has expanded aggressively across Africa, the Middle East, Australia, Europe and South America.

The Lepas SUV Line-Up

Lepas L4

The L4 is expected to become the brand’s entry-level SUV.

Designed for urban families and first-time premium SUV buyers, it combines modern styling with practicality.

Lepas L6

The L6 is the brand’s medium-sized SUV and is expected to play a major role in international markets.

Plug-in hybrid and electrified variants are expected to form a major part of the range.

Lepas L8

The flagship.

The L8 is the vehicle that has attracted the most attention globally. With styling that shares some DNA with Chery’s larger SUVs, it combines luxury, technology and electrified powertrains.

Why South Africa Matters

South Africa has become one of the most important markets for Chinese brands outside China.

The success of Chery, Haval, Omoda, Jaecoo and Jetour has proven that local buyers are willing to embrace new brands if they offer:

✔ Good value

✔ Modern technology

✔ Strong warranties

✔ Attractive design

✔ Competitive pricing

Lepas intends to leverage Chery’s existing dealer and support infrastructure while positioning itself as a more premium offering.

When Is Lepas Coming To South Africa?

The brand launched locally during 2026 and is expected to expand its product range over the coming years. South Africa is viewed as a strategic market for Lepas’ African ambitions.

Lepas executives have publicly stated that they believe the brand can become one of South Africa’s top-selling automotive brands within five years.

That is a bold claim.

But given what Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo have achieved in a relatively short period, it is not impossible.

What Makes Lepas Different?

The challenge facing Lepas is simple:

How do you stand out when your parent company already owns several successful brands?

The answer appears to be design and lifestyle positioning.

Where Chery focuses on value, Jaecoo focuses on premium adventure and Omoda targets younger urban buyers, Lepas is positioning itself as an elegant lifestyle SUV brand with a stronger emphasis on electrification and premium experiences.

Final Thoughts

The arrival of Lepas is another sign that the Chinese automotive revolution is only just beginning.

Ten years ago, many buyers were sceptical about Chinese vehicles.

Today, brands like Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo, Jetour and BYD are among the fastest-growing names in the South African market.

Lepas is the next chapter.

Whether it becomes a major success story remains to be seen, but one thing is certain:

South African SUV buyers are about to have even more choice.

And that’s good news for everyone.

Quick Facts

Founded: 2025

Parent Company: Chery Automobile

Country: China

Headquarters: Wuhu, Anhui, China

Models: L4, L6, L8

Focus: Premium SUVs, Hybrid SUVs, EVs

South African Launch: 2026

Main Rivals: Omoda, Jaecoo, Haval, BYD, Jetour, Hyundai, Kia