JOHANNESBURG - Young people are helping to buoy the popularity of Chinese cars in South Africa.
The latest Standard Bank Youth Barometer shows young South Africans are increasingly choosing Chinese vehicle brands, attracted by their affordability.
The shift is boosting entry-level vehicle sales and challenging traditional carmakers to better understand changing consumer preferences.
Economists say established brands still benefit from familiarity and heritage, but younger buyers are increasingly prioritising value for money.
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Agreeing with this Standard Bank head of dealer sales and marketing, Mothusi Dire, who said there's always going to be a space for both Chinese as well as the traditional ones to exist.
But that can only happen once traditional manufacturers start to reassess what matters the most to young buyers because it's no longer about their legacy or nostalgia.
" When you then look at those traditional vehicles, they have to go through their research and development and say, what is it that draws the young people to a lot more of Chinese as opposed to their ones?
"And I think from there, they will then get an element of an insight as to what are some of those things that your kind of like need to change," he said.