South Africa’s electric mobility story is no longer a distant glow on the horizon. But, how do you make new-energy vehicles work for a country that demands long-distance confidence, everyday durability and real value?
For Changan, the answer is not a single product, but a next-generation EV approach built around choice, aspiration and practicality. The Hunter K50 REEV speaks to drivers who need bakkie toughness with electric intelligence. The Deepal S07 and incoming S05 REEV introduce a more elevated expression of electric mobility – refined, high-end, intelligent and design-led.
Hunter K50 REEV: Electric Confidence, Bakkie Muscle
The Hunter K50 REEV is the clearest sign that Changan understands South Africa’s motoring culture. The K50 REEV is the world’s first range-extended electric bakkie that combines an electric drive system with a 2.0-litre turbo-charged petrol generator – giving drivers the smoothness and immediate response of electric power, with the reassurance of extended range when the road stretches beyond the charging map. For weekday commutes, the Hunter K50 REEV can lean into electric driving. For longer journeys, where downtime is not an option, the range-extender concept reduces the anxiety that often slows EV adoption.
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The Hunter K50 REEV delivers 200kW of total power and 470Nm of torque. It offers four-wheel drive, a pure-electric range of up to 145km and up to 1000km when the range extender is deployed. Its practical credentials include a 1,010kg payload, 2,200kg authorised trailer mass, 600mm wading depth and up to 220mm ground clearance when unladen.
Deepal S07: Premium Electric Intelligence
Where the Hunter K50 REEV bridges toughness and technology, the Deepal S07 makes the EV future feel premium, intelligent and deeply desirable.
Its award-winning design is clean, sculptural and quietly confident, with frameless doors, concealed door handles, LED lighting signatures and a low, composed stance. Inside, the S07 moves the conversation from “electric vehicle” to “intelligent luxury experience.” Its cabin draws inspiration from Mediterranean yacht design, with premium finishes, a unique centre console, panoramic openness and uncluttered architecture.
The Deepal S07 produces 160kW and 320Nm through sporty rear-wheel drive, with a pure EV range of 500km. Fast charging from 30% to 80% is expected in 35 minutes. The cabin features a 15.6-inch “Sunflower” infotainment screen, augmented-reality head-up display, 14-speaker audio system, wireless charging, Wi-Fi, voice control, gesture recognition and a 540-degree camera system.
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Deepal S05 REEV: The Practical Premium Step
The incoming Deepal S05 REEV carries the Deepal design philosophy and intelligent technology in a more compact, agile and city-friendly package. Like the K50 Hunter REEV, the S05 is a range-extended SUV, combining electric intelligence with the reassurance of extended-range capability.
With a 27.28kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, the S05 REEV offers pure electric range of at least 160km, with fast charging from 30% to 80% in 20 minutes. Power comes from a rear-mounted electric motor producing 160kW and 320Nm, supported by a 1.5-litre range extender, giving the S05 REEV up to 1,000km of combined range.
Beyond the drivetrain, it carries the Deepal character through a 15.4-inch 2.5K central control screen, AR head-up display, 14-speaker audio system, 540-degree panoramic imaging, frameless doors and intelligent ADAS features.
Driven to Evolve
“South African motorists are ready for a smarter, more practical approach to electrified mobility. Our next-generation EV lineup has been developed to balance innovation with real-world usability, giving customers the confidence, technology and versatility they need for everyday driving conditions. Whether it’s the capability of the Hunter K50 REEV or the premium intelligence of the Deepal range, our focus remains on making advanced mobility more accessible and more relevant for the local market,” said Marinus Venter, General Manager of Changan South Africa.
Together, the Hunter K50 REEV, Deepal S07 and incoming S05 REEV show a brand thinking beyond the novelty of electrification. In a country that needs innovation to be accessible, beautiful and useful all at once, Changan’s next-generation EV approach feels less like a gamble and more like perfect timing.
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