McCarthy Motor Holdings has announced the launch of Chery, China's largest domestic auto manufacturer in South Africa and its product lineup includes the most affordable new passenger vehicle in the market.

"We are proud to say that the Chery models launched today are price leaders in their various segments, and has the backing and after sales support of one of the leading motor retailers in the country," Jolyon Nash, McCarthy's executive director in charge of vehicle imports and distribution, said recently. "We are confident that the Chery passenger cars will be able to live up to the promise of providing very good value for money, as well as good quality in the volume segments of the South African market."

Among Chery's ambitious goals are plans to manufacture 1 million units per annum by 2010 and release 38 new models within the next 5 years.

Initially there will be three Chery models on the local market - the QQ3 minicar with a choice of 0,8- and 1,1-litre engines, as well as the J5 saloon and Tiggo compact SUV, both of which feature the Chery and AVL-List-developed 2,0-litre ACTECO engine.
All Chery models come with a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and 3-year anti corrosion cover as standard. An optional service plan is also available.

McCarthy chief executive Brand Pretorius said the company had learned from its experiences with Meiya and Foton light commercials and invested R46-million in infrastructure, training and a 4000 square-metre, central spares warehouse that already holds maintenance, replacement and crash parts worth more than R10-million.

To date, McCarthy has established a dealer network that comprises four McCarthy-owned and managed stand-alone Chery dealerships, 13 McCarthy-owned and managed multi-franchise dealers, ten independent dealers, and a chain of 20 McCarthy Value Serve specialist service and repair workshops around the country.