Chinese-Brand Warranties in South Africa — the Full Comparison
Written and edited by Ethan Cole, Editor-in-Chief · ✓ Technically reviewed by Daniel Wei Chen — Senior Chinese Automotive Diagnostics & Repair Specialist, Sydney · 22 August 2026.
South Africa’s Chinese brands fight their hardest battle on warranty pages — and the spreads are the widest we’ve documented in any market: vehicle cover runs from 3 years to 7 depending on badge and even on which car in the showroom. Every number below comes from the official pages we’ve verified and archived; every asterisk is printed, not implied.
The master table
| Chery | Omoda & Jaecoo | MG | BYD | GWM / Haval | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle warranty | 5yr / 150,000 km (Tiggo 8 Pro Max: 7yr/200k) | 5yr / 150,000 km | 5yr / 150,000 km | 5yr / 100,000 km Dolphin & Surf: 3yr/100k | 7yr / 200,000 km (from 01/01/2025) (Steed: 5/100k) |
| Engine programme | 10yr / 1,000,000 km* | 10yr / 1,000,000 km* | — | Drive unit 5yr/100k | — |
| HV battery | 10yr / unlimited km* | (hybrids per family terms) | 7yr / 200,000 km with a 70% capacity floor | 8yr / 200,000 km (no capacity floor stated) | 8yr / 150,000 km |
| Included service plan | 3–7yr by model (30,000–90,000 km) | 5yr / 70,000 km (SHS: 75k) | ZS 5yr/60k · HS 5yr/90k | Atto 3 launch: 5yr/100k; per-dealer otherwise | 7yr / 75,000 km (Steed: 3yr) |
| The asterisk | *Limited to first owner — engine & battery headline cover doesn’t transfer | Wear items briefly covered (pads/tyres 6mo) | Clock runs from invoice date | Press quotes “transferable”; table doesn’t print it — confirm in booklet | |
| Unique edge | Million-km engine story | Cross-border African recognition | The only published capacity floor | 8yr battery — 200,000 km matched by MG, unlimited only at Chery (first-owner) | Longest vehicle cover, flat across the range (Steed excepted) |
Who wins — by buyer, not by brand
- Keeping the car 7+ years, buying new: GWM’s flat 7/200k is the strongest unconditional vehicle cover. Chery’s million-km engine is longer on paper — but it’s one component, first-owner only.
- Buying used: the field inverts. Chery/Omoda’s headline warranties die with the first owner; a 2025+ GWM keeps its 7/200k; an MG keeps its measurable battery floor. Second-hand, GWM and MG paperwork travels best — and a used Dolphin may carry no vehicle warranty at all.
- EV/PHEV buyers: MG’s 70% floor is the only number you can hold a dealer to; BYD and MG tie on distance (200,000 km — BYD with the extra year, MG with the measurable floor); Chery’s unlimited-km is the boldest — first-owner only. Three different bets on the same battery question.
- Cross-border drivers (Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe): Omoda & Jaecoo’s recognition programme stands alone.
- Budget bakkie buyers: the Steed’s short plan and 10,000 km diesel intervals mean its cheap price buys more service visits — budget the calendar, not just the sticker.
The one habit this table can’t replace: every plan here is voided by missed or late services — and the first-service timing differs even inside one family (Chery 5,000 km/6 months; Omoda/Jaecoo 10,000 km/12 months; GWM diesels 10,000 km/12 months). Whatever you buy, the first entry in the service book is the warranty’s real foundation.
Sources: the official warranty documentation of each brand, verified and quoted on our per-brand pages — Chery · Omoda & Jaecoo · MG · BYD · GWM. Terms change; the per-brand pages carry the verification dates.
Disclaimer: Information on this page is general guidance only and does not replace the manufacturer’s official documentation. Always confirm current terms with the dealer before purchase. Last verified: 22 August 2026 · Next re-check: November 2026.