Jetour Auto introduces the T1 and T2 models
Riding the high from its recent successful introduction into South Africa, Jetour invited Autotrader to attend the global Travel+ conference in Fuzhou, China, to see what the brand is planning within its markets and to test the new T1 and T2 models that will be coming to SA in 2025.
Travel Worldwide
Jetour is a brand on the move. Established in 2018, it has very quickly grown to a globally recognised marque with a growing fan base. Jetour opened shop in September 2024 in South Africa and has already sold over 500 vehicles in that short time. Jetour SA invited us to attend the global Travel+ conference in Fuzhou, China, to see what the brand is cooking up for the future, visit the assembly plant, and test drive the new T1 and T2 models.
Related: Everything you need to know about Jetour
The sheer scale at which Jetour is rolling out its products and eating up market share in markets around the world is a sign that other automakers, both local and Chinese, need to take notice. Our five days on the ground yielded an incredible amount of information about the brand, its marketing strategy, and the vehicles that will be produced. This is what went down in Fuzhou.
Jetour factory visit
The Jetour factory encompasses the full spectrum of vehicle production capabilities, including stamping, welding, painting and assembly, with an annual capacity of 200 000 units. It plans to double its output to 400 000 units per year. Jetour implemented an advanced material management system with autonomous mobile robots and automatic guided vehicles that efficiently manage daily logistics at the facility. We received an up-close experience of the paint shop, where programmed robots complete 18 tasks per hour, reaching 10 000 units per month. This high-quality painting process prioritises energy efficiency, automation, and a final finish.
The assembly line supports the flexible production of four models on two platforms, including new energy models. Currently, this line includes unmanned tyre assembly and CNC robot sealant bonding technology for windshield installation, significantly improving sealant precision for rainproofing and noise reduction.
Jettour's Fuzhou factory is fully producing the Jetour T2, which was officially launched in Dubai in January 2024. Since then, the light off-road SUV has quickly become a hot seller and has topped the sales charts in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The car, known as “Traveler” in China, has been in high demand since its launch. In December 2023, 13 224 units were sold, surpassing 10,000 units for two consecutive months.
Visiting vehicle assembly plants never ceases to amaze me. Watching a piece of metal get stamped, welded, painted, and assembled into a fully functional vehicle is still fascinating. What makes the Fuzhou factory even more interesting is that most of it is done by fully automated robots with very little human intervention until the final assembly line.
Travel+ Conference
Since launching in 2018, Jetour has focused on "Travel+", a marketing strategy that approaches consumers with a travel mindset. This aims to get consumers to travel with their vehicles and explore them, as well as equip their vehicles with branded accessories. The marketing campaign has a heavy lifestyle element, with Jetour's final aim to become a leading global brand in hybrid off-road vehicles. Understanding that the most memorable part of any journey lies in the departure rather than the arrival, this SUV brand is crafted to make every moment on the road an elevated driving experience.
The conference saw close to 1500 people from over 62 countries where the Jetour brand is present come together to share their own stories and check out the vast array of options currently and planned for the T series vehicles.
We were also able to share our thoughts on the brand and what they can do to better connect with their consumers with multiple surveys and questionnaires being filled in. We were also given an exclusive private viewing of the upcoming production-ready T5 super heavy offroad machine that was awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, the veil of secrecy hung heavy, and we were prohibited from taking any video or photographic images of the vehicle. Still, we must say that it is a sight to behold!
T1 and T2 test drive
An early morning departure from Fuzhou and a two-hour bus ride to the Pingtan International Karting Circuit awaited us. The highlight of the trip to Fuxhou, China, was the official test drive of the T1 and T2 units that we had seen so much of.
A short driver briefing was breezed through, and then it was time to get behind the wheel for a quick run through a handling course and a slower offroad circuit to experience these vehicles first-hand. Right-hand drive production has only just started, so we could only sample left-hand drive units at the test drive, but it was enough to give a quick impression of what South African consumers can expect.
The T1 and T2 models are built on the same platform and have the same engine and drivetrain options, with the T2 being a somewhat taller, wider, and longer example. Both models are offered with an AWD system, but the T2 will get more aggressive off-road driving modes. The T1 is geared toward soft roading and suburbia, while the T2 is the heftier, off-road-biased machine.
There will be 3 powertrain options initially, with the i-Dm hybrids coming later. The well-known 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine/7-speed DCT, found in most of the Chery brand vehicles that deliver 135kW and 290kW, is the starting point with the 2.0T petrol mated to the same 7-speed DCT, a good middle child. Still, the 2.0-litre turbo engine option mated to the 8-speed Auto transmission delivered the best drive.
The interiors are incredibly well appointed, with quality fit and finish, and feature the latest tech that Jetour has developed for its vehicles. These are really good vehicles, and South African consumers will lap them up like the other markets where they have launched.
Let the Travel begin
The T1 and T2 models will arrive in South Africa in mid-2025 and will be the first right-hand drive market to receive the vehicles. The T series machines will join the Dashing and X70 models locally as Jetour SA drives to reach a heady sales goal of 30 000 units over the next three years. Judging from the global acceptance of these models thus far and our own experience of the vehicles and the brand, it is not far-reaching!
In the next two years, Jetour will introduce eight new products, covering the urban SUV, off-road SUV, and pickup series. Starting in 2024, they will progressively introduce hybrid products into international markets. By 2030, Jetour plans to build 19 KD factories overseas to meet the demand for more than 80 markets around the world.
We can definitely see the appeal and the ability of the brand to go places, and we are looking forward to seeing how it grows from strength to strength locally.
