{"id":840925,"date":"2025-10-27T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=840925"},"modified":"2025-10-27T09:45:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T07:45:49","slug":"a-first-of-its-kind-bakkie-launching-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/840925\/a-first-of-its-kind-bakkie-launching-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"A first-of-its-kind bakkie launching in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Changan South Africa is launching the world’s first range-extending electric vehicle (REEV) Bakkie in South Africa in early November, with pricing still to be announced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While pricing has not yet been revealed, the launch marks a notable development for the country\u2019s vehicle landscape, bringing a new type of hybrid technology to one of South Africa\u2019s most popular segments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Changan South Africa, the Hunter REEV combines the traditional capability of a bakkie with the efficiency and technology of electric mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The model uses a system that blends electric drive with a petrol-powered generator that extends range once the battery runs low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visually, the Hunter REEV stands out from typical bakkies on South African roads. Changan described its design as \u201cmodern, confident, and unmistakably unique,\u201d featuring smooth lines, a redesigned grille, LED headlamps, and 18-inch alloy wheels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company added that it aimed to create a vehicle that merges toughness with a more refined, futuristic look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, the Hunter REEV departs from the utilitarian interiors common in work-focused pickups. The cabin includes wraparound digital displays, wireless charging, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also support for Wi-Fi connectivity and over-the-air updates, meaning software improvements can be installed remotely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe wanted the interior to feel more like a premium SUV than a workhorse,\u201d said Changan, adding that the vehicle\u2019s design focuses on comfort, ergonomics, and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hunter REEV is powered by a combination of a 31.2kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery and a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol generator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The battery provides up to 145km of electric-only driving on the CLTC cycle, while the range-extending engine increases the total driving distance to around 1,000km. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combined, the setup delivers 200kW of power and 470Nm of torque through an electric four-wheel-drive system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changan said the system is designed to give drivers the capability and strength expected from a bakkie, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also allows the Hunter REEV to maintain the towing and off-road functionality that many buyers in South Africa still expect from a pickup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to exepct<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Safety and driver assistance features are a key part of the new bakkie. The Hunter REEV includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and a 540\u00b0 panoramic camera system with parking assist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also features electronic stability control, traction control, ABS, EBD, trailer sway control, hill-start assist, and hill-descent control. Multiple airbags and brake assist systems add to its safety credentials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Hunter REEV is not just powerful\u2014it\u2019s built to protect,\u201d Changan said. For the company, the model represents an attempt to broaden the reach of electrification beyond the passenger car market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis vehicle shows that electric and hybrid technology can also serve the toughest, hardest-working vehicles on South African roads,\u201d said Changan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Hunter REEV models will come with a five-year or 150,000km warranty. The company confirmed that introductory pricing will apply at launch, though specific figures are still to be announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it remains to be seen how the South African market will respond to the new electric bakkie, Changan believes the Hunter REEV offers a glimpse into how the utility vehicle sector could evolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Hunter REEV is part of a global move toward more sustainable and intelligent vehicles,\u201d the company said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor South Africans, it\u2019s an opportunity to experience that transition in a way that doesn\u2019t compromise the practicality and endurance they expect from a bakkie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Hunter REEV<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Changan South Africa is launching the world’s first range-extending electric vehicle (REEV) Bakkie in South Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":840926,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11119],"tags":[23911,853,23912],"class_list":["post-840925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motoring","tag-changan-south-africa","tag-south-africa","tag-the-hunter-reev"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/840925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=840925"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/840925\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":840935,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/840925\/revisions\/840935"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/840926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=840925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=840925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=840925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}