OMODA celebrates its third anniversary after emerging as SA’s fastest-growing automotive brand last year

OMODA is celebrating three years in South Africa, having grown from a single-model launch in 2023 into a broader SUV brand with an expanded retail and aftersales footprint across the country. Since its introduction, the OMODA C5 has recorded 15,219 sales in South Africa, helping establish the brand nationally, while customer feedback has also informed product updates seen in the C5 X Series. OMODA’s local range continues to evolve with the addition of the C7 SHS and C9 SHS, while the upcoming C4 and newly launched C5 Hybrid point to further expansion in the market.

Three years after launching in South Africa in April 2023 with the stylish C5, OMODA has grown from a new arrival into an established and fast-growing presence in the local passenger vehicle market.

As the brand’s first market on the continent, South Africa has played a central role in OMODA’s expansion, with the local lineup growing from a single model and a 30-dealer network to 61 dealerships spread across the country.

Building A Strong Foundation With The C5

At the heart of that growth has been the C5, the model that introduced the brand to style- and value-conscious South Africans, and helped build the marque’s national awareness from the ground up. Since OMODA entered the market, the C5 has recorded total sales of 15,219 units, bringing the brand name to customers across the country and laying the foundation for its continued momentum.

That success has not only been driven by design, technology, and strong value, but also by OMODA’s willingness to listen to the market. Customer feedback has played an important role in the evolution of the range, culminating in the introduction of the C5 X Series, which brought with it a DCT transmission, improved performance, upgraded interior materials, increased boot space, and better fuel efficiency, amongst other things.

The result is a product that reflects what South African customers want from a modern SUV: style, comfort, practicality and strong everyday usability at a competitive price point.

Expanding Into Advanced And Electrified Models

The brand’s expansion in South Africa has also been defined by the introduction of increasingly sophisticated products. The C9 SHS and C7 SHS underscore OMODA’s confidence in electrified mobility, combining high efficiency with advanced technology and performance.

In the case of the C9 SHS, that offering is particularly striking, with outputs of 440 kW and 915 N.m of torque, as well as an all-electric range of up to 150 km, reinforcing the vehicle’s position at the top end of the OMODA lineup.

Alongside this, the C9 has broadened perceptions of what the OMODA brand can offer in the premium SUV space, while the recent arrival of the C7 signals that the brand’s local momentum is far from slowing down.

Continued Growth And Market Momentum

With the recently launched C5 hybrid, as well as the upcoming C4, OMODA continues to build out a range designed to meet a wider set of customer needs while maintaining its focus on innovation, efficiency, design and value.

“Over the past three years, South African customers have shown strong enthusiasm for the OMODA brand, and that response has helped shape the journey we’ve been on,” said Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager for OMODA & JAECOO South Africa. “The C5 gave us a strong foundation in this market, but as our range continues to grow, we remain focused on delivering vehicles that resonate with and meet the needs of local drivers.”