Cars.co.za can confirm that Jaecoo’s plans to launch the cute-looking J6 EV off-roader in South Africa have been put on hold. But wait, speaking exclusively to Cars.co.za, the brand confirmed that the J6 will instead revert to its original branding iCar.
The announcement was sudden and Jaecoo’s local arm was already in the advanced planning stages for the J6’s SA market launch, which was earmarked for May/June 2025.
We had the opportunity to drive the J6 in early 2024 in China (read: All-electric J6 coming to SA). As a reminder, the J6 was available in single- or dual-motor configuration and had a claimed 0-100 kph time of around 6.5 seconds. Depending on configuration, the expected range was between 400 and 500 km.
The return to the iCar name comes with complications, as we understand that Chery South Africa will market the new brand separately from the Omoda/Jaecoo/Chery dealers.
That will require standalone dealerships, staff will need to be trained on the EV/PHEV lifestyle, and as a result, the iCar 03 is only expected to be retailed by the end of 2025/early 2026.
Possibly one of the biggest challenges will be the name iCar (as a Cupertino-based tech brand tends to prefix its product names with an “i”); Chery applied to trademark “iCar” in South Africa on 15 April 2025.
The iCar 03 has a wheelbase of 2 715 mm, length of 4 406 mm and the vehicle tips the scales at just under 1 900 kg. While it may be marketed as an off-roader, it is important to note that the model has a monocoque as opposed to a ladder-frame chassis (as used by the Suzuki Jimny). Ground clearance is rated at 200 mm, and having the dual-motor powertrain should allow for some off-road adventures.
The iCar 03 will be the first of many products from this new brand and we’re keen to see just how much interest there is in a posh electric Jimny.
