“For many South Africans personal transport remains an unattainable dream, simply because there is no way of getting behind the wheel of their own vehicle and then being able to meet the monthly cost requirements.

This leaves people stuck in a cycle where they are forced to use the minibus taxi infrastructure, whereby they must spend upwards of four hours in every working day either waiting to go somewhere or squashed inside a vehicle which has severe limitations in terms of its active and passive safety. And for this dubious privilege they must pay the best part of R1 000 a month.”

Changan Southern Africa is on a mission to break this cycle through the introduction of the Chana B4 programme.

B4 refers to an extensive revitalisation and refurbishing programme applying to hundreds of Chana Benni hatchbacks and Chana Star light commercial vehicles which were in storage when the previous Chana importer ceased to operate.

CSA realised these vehicles provide an ideal opportunity to beat the budget blues and has embarked on a programme to refurbish these units to a ‘nearly-new’ standard. The starting point for the programme was an extensive audit to ascertain which of these cars were beyond redemption, and which ones could be sold as ‘used demonstrators’ once fully refurbished.

“The safety of the end user is paramount, and there are clearly non-negotiable issues which include attending to brakes, tyres, glass and handling,” explains CSA chief executive Teresita van Gaalen. “So Chana B4 used demonstrators undergo a thorough examination from grill to bumper and everywhere else in between for sound safety, to be fully compliant and roadworthy.”

Many Chana B4 cars have also been re-upholstered throughout, had their dashboards refurbished and had paintwork retouched. A full oil change, engine wash and replenishment of all fluids give them a clean bill of mechanical health.

Chana B4 Bennis are sold with a one-year, 60 000 km manufacturer’s warranty. The complete range of Chana B4 used/demo vehicles qualify for financing through all the major banks. Depending on the model, a customer can drive off in a Chana which has seen very little use B4, for as little as R49 999

Unashamedly focussed on providing motoring consumers with exceptional bang for their buck, the front-wheel-drive Alsvin heralds a new era for Changan; the fresh approach harnesses Changan’s proven ability to produce exceptional value-for-money vehicles with mass appeal and with the Alsvin adds modern good-looks and strong performance to the equation.

Thanks to dependable, well-tested fundamentals in a no-nonsense package the Alsvin is expected to reach showrooms for less than R120 000 and set a new standard for overall affordability in the Sub-B category.

Says Teresita van Gaalen, chief executive of Changan Southern Africa: “The Alsvin will be the right product at the right time for our brand, and will provide a new, strong alternative for young first-time car buyers, graduates and young couples setting out together. The offering will also represent a strong alternative for others who are forever young and are looking to drive into the sunset in a well-priced vehicle to give them comfort and convenience and significant budgetary advantages.”

The Alsvin will be powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve all-aluminium engine producing 72 kW and 137 Nm, and will be offered with a five-speed manual as standard as well as the option of a four-speed automatic.

Both five-door hatchback and four-door sedan versions are being considered, and with the level of space coupled to the respectable engine outputs, it’ll be able to make its mark as a bona fide family transport solution – even at power-sapping Gauteng altitude.

As a full package and value proposition, the Alsvin is expected to outshine competitors.
Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, the Alsvin combines established and affordable chassis technology to keep costs in line – an approach which has helped it sell some 250 000 units in its domestic market in the last two years.

“It is running costs rather than just purchase price which is keeping consumers frustrated and the Alsvin will address these issues too,” says Van Gaalen. “We expect to launch with a service plan and are currently focused on researching parts prices, where possible sourcing from appropriate local suppliers will be given a serious consideration to come up with the best package yet.

The Alsvin’s fuel consumption of under seven litres per 100 km  is  another factor which will enable owners to keep costs in check.”

Representing Changan International Corporation at the Johannesburg International Motor Show, Director of Marketing Mr Jian Li said: “As Changan’s strategic product, Alsvin hatchback is developed on Changan’s new platform and integrates the power of nine R&D centres situated in five different countries across the world.

The new international standards platform is highlighted in the sharp, sporty new look and design characteristics, low air dynamics and new power-train of the Alsvin hatchback.

The Alsvin is manufactured in Changan’s modern Chongqing factory, a facility equipped to build cars to the highest international standards and meet specific consumer needs and legal requirements which differ from country to country.

For example, local derivatives are likely to feature power steering, a driver’s airbag and anti-lock brakes as standard and exceed all minimum requirements for the South African market.

With the introduction of the Star II in August this year, those consumers after a hard-working load-lugger that punches above its weight can look forward to more aerodynamic styling, detail refinements to the engine, and improved gearbox performance thanks to upgraded bearings and internals.

There is also an overall improvement in quality thanks to higher manufacturing standards and better attention to detail at all of Changan’s Chinese plants and there’s now better protection against the environment thanks to tighter shutlines, improved welding techniques and improved quality of paintwork.

At first glance you will notice the gently-curved, double-decker headlight clusters which wrap around the corners of the cab giving a smoother countenance.

The simple black grille separates the clusters and provides a serious look to the nose – this is a bakkie made for working ,not for posing, after all. Because work inevitably goes on deep into the night sometimes, powerful headlights abetted by front foglights are standard.

While the look may arguably be considered slightly ‘softer’, what hasn’t changed is the Star’s rugged design which enables it to carry an 800 kilogram payload in single-cab guise, 600 kilograms in Club Cab layout and half-a-tonne as a four-door Double Cab.

You also get a toughened, ‘bak’, (with dropsides available as a no-cost option on all models for ease of loading), recessed tail lights to prevent damage, strengthened latches and hinges, and protective metal bars on the rear window.

 And of course it is rear-wheel-drive, so that the torque is applied directly under the load. With a load bed measuring 2.2 (that’s a match for most conventional single cabs) x 1.4 metres, the Star lives up to its name when it comes to carrying high-volume loads too.

A tiny, nine metre turning circle will get to exactly where the load is needed.
Making it the most user-friendly workhorse this side of the Limpopo is the forward-control layout, with generous glass area and large mirrors aiding all-round visibility. Cloth-covered seats with separate headrests, a soft-touch urethane steering wheel and a three-speed/four-outlet ventilation system make life at the wheel comfortable.  There’s plenty of oddment space, too.

At the heart of every Chana Star II is a zesty four-cylinder, 16-valve petrol powerplant with the choice of 1.0- or 1.3-litre capacities. While outputs remain unchanged compared to the previous generation Star (the larger powerplant is rated at 60 kW and 102 Nm, the smaller one at 39 kW/78 Nm), Star II gets a later-generation C-series engine.

A number of changes – mainly to engine management and fuel measurement systems – result in better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Once again, quality of component manufacture and improved assembly has resulted in smoother and quieter mechanical operation.

Underpinnings are pure heavy-duty light commercial vehicle…so the solid back axle is suspended on leaf springs, the brakes combine front discs and rear drums with a load-proportioning valve, and a five-speed box with a beefed-up clutch is designed to work all day.

Keeping costs in check is sensible 165/70 rubber of 13-inch steel wheels. With overall consumption in the region of 7.5 litres per 100 km, a 40 litre fuel tank will be sufficient for 500 km hauls between refuels.

A one year/60 000 km factory warranty is standard across the range. Dealer options on all Star models include alloy wheels, tuner, and air conditioning on 1.3 litre models. Pricing starts at just R59 900 for the base model single cab, even the flagship Star II double cab 1.3 with air conditioning coming in below the R100 000 mark.

Now that’s what we call fit for the job!

Six months have passed since the formation of Changan Southern Africa, with a mandate to revitalize and to look after the Chana brand on the subcontinent. And we’re on track to meet the targets laid out by our sole shareholder: Rand-Asia Trade Finance, a Joint Venture partner of the China Construction Bank, Johannesburg branch – in turn a major financier of Changan International Corporation and the world’s second biggest bank.

The strategy is one of consolidation, leading up to the total transformation of the brand and the operations in the sub-continent of Africa. While it is our objective to get back to the levels of 2007 as soon as possible – when 3 655 Chana vehicles were sold (despite not being represented in the passenger car segments) – of greater importance is to look after the needs of existing owners – of which there are some 8 000 – by revitalizing the infrastructure which they rely on for servicing, repairs and parts sales.

We now have 22 dealerships nationwide and with that process well underway we have been able to look at the next phase – transformation – and as part of that we recently introduced the facelifted Star II light commercial vehicles. We’re also excited about the launch of the Alsvin early next year, a  model which will give  our dealers a strong contender in the most important sector of the market.

But in the meantime, our dealers are able to provide consumers with exceptional value through Chana B4, the Changan Pre-owned programme. Refurbished and sold as used ‘demo’ vehicles, the Chana B4 vehicles which include Benni, Starlight I range and Rainbow represent a great way into the market for consumers who want a reliable, no-frills experience.

We have also embarked on a programme to independently test our Star II LCV and new CV6 hatchback (an evolutionary and vastly-improved version of the Benni, now priced and packaged for the wholesale market) to not only benchmark them against logical rivals, but also to assess them critically and look for ways in which we can work with our partners in China to continuously improve our products for South African conditions and market expectations.

We already know Chana products are exceptionally tough (who can forget the legendary 2007 odyssey when a convoy of Chanas completed a grueling 21 000 kilometre journey from China to South Africa led by the legendary Geoff Dalglish?) but realize that the goalposts move constantly and that we need to meet and exceed market demands.

CSA has a strategy to cement its place in the South African sunshine, across the SADC region and as far North as the DRC. We’re confident we can meet the particular needs of the region’s motoring consumers and more to the point, we are sure the brand to increase the size and depth of the market, by supplying vehicles which are first and foremost fit for the job, affordable beyond belief and in keeping with the new economies.