The Jetour T2 has been named South Africa’s 2026 Car of the Year, making history as the first Chinese vehicle to win the prestigious competition.
The winners were announced at a function in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening.
The competition, currently sponsored by Old Mutual Insure, is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
The result marks a major moment for Chinese car brands in South Africa, where newer manufacturers have been gaining attention in recent years.
Volkswagen and Audi complete the podium
While the Jetour T2 took the overall title, German brands also had a strong night.
The Volkswagen Golf finished in second place overall, while the Audi RS Q8 took third.
German vehicles also won three of the six categories in the 2026 competition.
The Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI won the Compact category, while the Audi A5 took the Premium category. The Audi RS Q8 won the Performance category.
Category winners announced
The Family category went to the Omoda C7, another Chinese model.
The Jetour T2 also won the Mild Adventure category, while the Land Rover Defender OCTA claimed the Adventure category.
The full list of 2026 Car of the Year category winners is:
Compact: Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI
Family: Omoda C7
Mild Adventure: Jetour T2
Adventure: Land Rover Defender OCTA
Premium: Audi A5
Performance: Audi RS Q8
Close contest among finalists
The category winners came from a group of 18 finalists.
Those vehicles were tested during a two-day physical evaluation event held in Gauteng in early March.
This year’s juror scores were among the closest in the competition’s history. Sales figures and value metrics were also included through an automated scoring process to determine the final results.
That helped determine the final standings in a closely fought year for South Africa’s motoring industry.