Part bakkie, part SUV? Deepal E07 likely for SA in 2026

Changan is due to return to SA late in 2025, though its 2nd wave of products in 2026 looks likely to include the Deepal E07, which blends the bakkie and SUV body styles…

As we reported in March 2025, Chinese firm Changan Automobiles is set to return to South Africa in the final quarter of the year, with both the Changan and Deepal brands on the menu. While the initial range of products has already been confirmed, it seems the Deepal E07 – defined by its unconventional part-bakkie, part-SUV body style – is also on the cards.

From what we understand, Changan – which will be distributed locally by Saudi Arabian company Jameel Motors – will relaunch in Mzansi in Q4 2025, with the Alsvin sedan, CS75 Pro SUV, Hunter bakkie (closely related to the Peugeot Landtrek) and Deepal S07 electric crossover serving as the automaker’s initial range.

However, it seems the Chinese automaker is already planning a serious product offensive for 2026. In fact, Changan South Africa’s website shows not only the 4 confirmed models mentioned above but also lists 5 additional nameplates in a “future releases” section.

There’s the Changan CS55 Plus SUV, the Changan Hunter REEV (range-extended electric vehicle) bakkie, the Deepal S05 electric crossover, the Deepal L07 electric sedan and – perhaps most interestingly of all – the Deepal E07.

Badged as the “Changan Nevo E07” in its domestic market of China, this unconventional fully electric vehicle features what its maker describes as a “transformable body”. In short, the 4-door E07 is part bakkie, part SUV, though furthermore sports a coupé-like sloping roofline.

Right-hand-drive production of the E07 has already been locked in, with pre-orders having opened in Australia in April 2025. In that market, Changan calls this 5 045-mm long model a “multitruck”, pointing out that its “panoramic retractable dome roof” can open in seconds, while its tailgate is able to fold flat “for ease of access”.

Changan lists a modest payload capacity of 300 kg, while the luggage compartment/load bay is rated to swallow 524 litres with the rear seats in place and 1 654 litres with the rear bench dropped. An additional 131 litres of storage space is available courtesy of the “frunk” up front.

Down Under, the Deepal E07 will be available as a single-motor (rear-wheel-drive) variant generating 252 kW and 365 Nm (enough for a claimed 0–100 kph time of 6.9 seconds) as well as a dual-motor (all-wheel-drive) derivative churning out 440 kW and 645 Nm. According to the Chinese firm, the latter variant is capable of seeing off the sprint from standstill to 100 kph in just 3.9 seconds.

Both versions will come with an 89.98 kWh ternary lithium battery pack. In the rear-driven derivative, this translates to a claimed single-charge range of 642 km (NEDC), while the all-paw variant offers a claimed 626 km (NEDC). Thanks to the 800V electrical architecture, Changan says the E07 furthermore supports ultra-fast charging.

In Australia, the Deepal E07 kicks off at AU$64 900, which translates to roughly R750 000. However, we’d expect pricing for South Africa to come in quite a bit higher considering Australia has a free-trade agreement with China. In contrast, vehicles imported from China into Mzansi are currently subject to various duties and taxes, with electric vehicles such as the E07 attracting even higher charges…