Jetour South Africa has secured its first direct rental fleet customer, with Hertz Southern Africa Dollar & Thrifty adding Jetour T2 Odyssey models to its South African rental fleet.
The first vehicles have already entered service, with additional units expected to be delivered in the coming weeks. An official handover took place at Jetour South Africa’s headquarters in Midrand, Gauteng.
According to Jetour, the T2 Odyssey vehicles have been fully booked since becoming available to rental customers, providing an early indication of demand for the model within the rental channel.
For Jetour, however, the significance of the deal extends beyond the initial vehicles.
“This is Jetour South Africa’s first direct rental fleet customer, making it a significant milestone for our business,” said Lazola Qungwana, Head of Sales at Jetour South Africa.
Qungwana said rental companies are particularly selective when introducing new brands and models because vehicles must demonstrate reliability, resale value and the ability to withstand intensive daily rental operations.
“Being chosen by a company like Hertz Southern Africa Dollar & Thrifty is a vote of confidence not only in the Jetour T2, but in the Jetour brand as a whole,” he said.
The fleet breakthrough comes less than two years after Jetour launched in South Africa in September 2024.
By July 2025, the brand had entered South Africa’s top 15 passenger vehicle brands and has since maintained eighth position in the country’s new vehicle sales rankings for several consecutive months.
Momentum has also been supported by the introduction of Jetour’s T-Series in October 2025 and the Jetour T2’s victory at the 2026 South African Car of the Year awards in May.
The T2 Odyssey combines five-seat accommodation and 4×4 capability with features including heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a Sony premium sound system, wireless smartphone connectivity and charging, a 540° panoramic-view camera and a large infotainment display.
For rental operations, the vehicle is listed by Hertz Southern Africa Dollar & Thrifty in its Group E3 – IFAR category, covering five-passenger vehicles with 4×4 capability, automatic transmission, air conditioning, ABS, Bluetooth connectivity, power steering and electric windows.
Jetour is now looking beyond rental into other fleet channels. “Our growth to date has been driven primarily by individual retail customers. Our entry into the fleet market provides valuable additional brand exposure. We look forward to Hertz Southern Africa Dollar & Thrifty customers experiencing all that Jetour has to offer for themselves,” Qungwana said.
He confirmed that Jetour South Africa is also pursuing opportunities in government fleets, fleet management and the vehicle leasing sector.
“Our hope is that our partnership with Hertz Southern Africa Dollar & Thrifty will be the first of many, as we continue building Jetour into a brand that is trusted not only by everyday consumers, but by large-scale fleet operators who put our vehicles to the test every single day,” Qungwana added.
Hertz Southern Africa Dollar & Thrifty South Africa has operated in the country since the 1950s and today provides short- and long-term mobility solutions through a network of more than 40 rental locations at major airports and in key cities. Its fleet spans passenger vehicles, SUVs, bakkies and premium models.
For Jetour, the transaction represents more than another route to market. It marks the Chinese automotive brand’s first direct entry into South Africa’s institutional rental fleet channel and potentially a platform from which to pursue a much broader fleet customer base.
