LDV is the latest automotive brand from China to enter South Africa, with the Asian country seemingly intensifying its efforts to become the world’s new automotive powerhouse.

LDV forms part of SAIC, which is the vehicle partner to General Motors and Volkswagen in China. It is also the manufacturer of Chinese-specific brand Roewe, as well as the owner of the MG and Maxus badges.

SAIC and its various electric vehicle (EV) brands last year cornered more than 13% of the global EV market. This included more than 100 000 vehicle sales in Europe.

The company has international production facilities in Thailand, Indonesia, India and Pakistan, with Europe set to follow.

The Maxus name may draw recognition on local shores, as its electric delivery vans are supplied to Woolworths through a third party importer.

LDV South Africa (SA) will not, however, focus on EV sales just yet. Instead, the main goal is the sale of affordable internal combustion engine sports-utility vehicles, light commercial vehicles and medium commercial vehicles.

Headquartered in Sandton, LDV SA is not owned by SAIC in China, but by a private distributor. The company notes that it has already signed 30 dealership agreements in South Africa.

Construction of the first LDV dealership in Sandton is already completed, with an agreement on the establishment of a national parts distribution warehouse almost wrapped up.

The first model the company will launch in South Africa – in May – is the LDV T60 pick-up.

LDV Automotive Australia sold more than 21 000 vehicles last year, with the T60 range the top-seller.

With local testing on the T60 complete, LDV SA will sell the vehicle with a five-year/200 000 km factory warranty and a five-year/100 000 km service plan as standard.

“On a global scale, SAIC and its family of vehicle brands, such as LDV, dwarf other Chinese vehicle manufacturers, and on a regional scale LDV has already firmly proven and established itself in right-hand-drive markets such as Australia and New Zealand, where it is a very popular brand,” says LDV SA GM Ockert Conradie.