BAIC South Africa confirms BAIC B30 SUV will be assembled at its Coega facility

BAIC South Africa confirmed on Tuesday that the all-new BAIC B30 SUV will be assembled locally at the company’s Coega facility in Gqeberha, marking another significant step in the brand’s long-term commitment to the South African market. The announcement follows the B30’s dynamic first showing at the Festival of Motoring 2025 and comes ahead of its official national launch in November 2025.

It said the local assembly will begin shortly after launch, reinforcing BAIC’s strategy to build key models on South African soil and expand the plant’s production footprint.

“Localising the B30 is about more than manufacturing - it’s about investing in people, skills, and a sustainable automotive future for South Africa,” said Ameena Hassan, the Brand & PR Manager at BAIC South Africa. “Our Coega facility was built to support long-term growth, and the addition of the B30 underscores our confidence in this market and our intention to become a truly local brand.”

The R11 billion Coega plant, one of the largest industrial investments in the country’s automotive sector, currently assembles the BAIC B40 Plus and X55 Plus models.

BAIC South Africa said the inclusion of the new B30 SUV will expand capacity and sustain hundreds of local jobs across production, logistics, and dealership networks.

In line with BAIC’s global “Build Where We Sell” philosophy, the company said the localisation of the B30 strengthens the brand’s supply-chain resilience, reduces import dependency, and opens opportunities for future component sourcing through South African suppliers.

“We see South Africa as the gateway to the continent,” Hassan said. “Building the B30 locally allows us to deliver vehicles faster, tailor them to local conditions, and invest directly in the communities that support us.”