Johannesburg, South Africa
The BEIJING X55, introduced by BAIC
South Africa in November 2022, has been selected as a finalist for the 2023 South African Car of the Year
(COTY) competition. It is the only Chinese competitor in the Compact Family category of the COTY competition
and is one of three Chinese-manufactured vehicles in this year's 21-finalist lineup.
"We are
thrilled to be a part of this year's finalist group. It is a testament to the exceptional design,
performance and safety features of our new X55," says Basil Costa, Senior Manager at BAIC South Africa.
"It is an honour to appear on this prestigious list competing for the top stakes in the local automotive
industry."
The BEIJING X55 boasts a sleek and sporty design, complete with an elegant split rear
wing. Its award-winning engine offers outstanding performance and fuel efficiency. It also earned a C-NCAP
Five-star Safety rating and is equipped with a wide range of active and passive safety features for added
peace of mind motoring. Inside, the X55 offers a luxurious, comfortable interior that ensures a relaxing
driving experience.
BAIC, Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation, is one of China's leading
automobile manufacturers. The BEIJING X55 is the company's innovation-driven compact SUV, featuring
electrification, intelligence, connectivity, and advanced technology. It is built on the BAIC Group's
latest generation BMFA (Beijing Modular Functional Architecture) platform, underpinning future vehicle
development, including plug-in hybrid and EV derivatives.
“BAIC made substantial investments in
developing smart cars under its new BEIJING brand through cooperation with partners in the
"intelligent-connected" vehicle technologies field. The company's longstanding joint venture
with Beijing Benz Automotive has included top-class innovations, supported by Daimler's technology, in
the BEIJING product range,” said Mr Hugo Hu, Vice President of BAIC SA based here in Johannesburg.
Founded in 1958, BAIC is ranked 162nd on the Fortune 500 list and is one of China's largest
state-owned automobile groups. The company's functions include R&D, vehicle, parts and components
manufacturing, the automobile service trade, comprehensive travel services, finance and investment. It is the
market leader in new-energy vehicles and has more than 360 sales and service outlets in over 30 countries
worldwide.
BAIC South Africa was established in 2016 as a joint venture with the Industrial
Development Corporation. The company operates an assembly plant in Gqeberha and is committed to developing and
expanding the African market. It has a network of 27 dealerships throughout the country and has an additional
dealer network of 23 pre-approved dealers covering all provinces.
Costa added, "The excitement
generated by the media launch in November last year created massive awareness for the new X55. Customer demand
exceeded our expectations, making us extremely confident about the future of BAIC in the South African
market."
To find out more about the exciting new BEIJING X55, visit www.beijingcars.co.za and
www.baic.co.za.
