How well did the new Chery Q sell in South Africa in its launch month of September 2026? We have sales figures for the Chinese brand’s first EV in Mzansi…
- Chery Q launched at start of September
- Accounted for 7.1% of Chery SA’s total
- Managed to outsell BYD’s Dolphin Surf
Orders for the new Chery Q opened in South Africa at the start of September 2026. So, how well did this Chinese electric vehicle (EV) sell in its launch month?
Well, according to figures reported to industry-representative body Naamsa, the Wuhu-based automaker’s local division registered 214 units of the Chery Q in September 2026, all sold via the dealer channel. For the sake of comparison, BYD Auto SA sold 150 units of the Dolphin Surf during the month.
That opening performance from the new Q helped the Chery brand reach a fresh sales high of 3 004 units in September, with local registrations increasing 8.7% month on month. Interestingly, that represented the first instance of the Chinese brand breaking through the 3 000-unit barrier in SA.
Drilling down into the individual-model sales figures, we see the marque’s first fully electric vehicle accounted for some 7.1% of its overall total. Within the Chery stable, the Q outsold both the Tiggo 8 (114 units) and the flagship Tiggo 9 (33 units), while finishing behind the Tiggo 7 (392 units) and the Tiggo 4 Cross (2 251 units).
As a reminder, the battery-powered Chery Q starts at R349 900, seeing it slot into 4th place on the list of SA’s most affordable EVs, behind the Geely E2 Aspire (R339 900), BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort (R341 900) and Dongfeng Box E2 430 (R349 000). Geely and Dongfeng unfortunately don’t currently report sales figures to Naamsa, so it’s not clear how many examples of the E2 and Box were sold in September.
The new Q is available in South Africa in 2 trim levels: Comfort and Elite (the latter priced at R389 900). Chery’s electric crossover measures 4 195 mm from front to back. That makes it 60 mm longer than Geely’s E2 and a considerable 270 mm lengthier than BYD’s Dolphin Surf.
The Q features a rear-mounted electric motor generating peak outputs of 90 kW and 115 Nm. Though a smaller battery pack is available in China, the SA market receives only the larger 42.7 kWh lithium iron phosphate item, which offers a claimed range of 400 km on the NEDC standard (and therefore likely sub-350 km on the more stringent WLTP cycle).
Inside the electric crossover, you’ll find a 15.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. The listed luggage capacity is 375 litres (expandable to 1 450 litres), while a separate front trunk offers an additional 70 litres of storage space.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How many units of the Chery Q were sold in South Africa during its September 2026 launch month?
A: Chery registered 214 units of the electric Q in September 2026, accounting for 7.1% of the brand’s total monthly sales and helping Chery SA break the 3 000-unit barrier for the first time with 3 004 overall registrations.
Q: What does the Chery Q cost in South Africa, and how does it rank among cheap EVs?
A: The Chery Q is priced from R349 900 for the Comfort trim and R389 900 for the Elite derivative, making it South Africa’s 4th most affordable electric vehicle.
Q: What are the motor, battery and range specifications of the Chery Q?
A: The Chery Q features a rear-mounted electric motor producing 90 kW and 115 Nm, paired with a 42.7 kWh battery pack that delivers a claimed driving range of up to 400 km (NEDC standard).
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Ryan Bubear
Having written about everything from sport and politics to crime, Ryan eventually settled on motoring. For well over 15 years, he's been penning articles – both online and in print – about the broader automotive industry, though he's particularly fascinated by vehicle-sales statistics. A freelance writer and editor, Ryan has owned a 1971 Austin Mini Mk3 for 20-plus years.
