More questions from AA in T1 and T2 payload battle with Jetour
Jetour South Africa has fired back after the AA insisted that the company recall their affected T1 and T2 vehicles.
The Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa and Jetour South Africa are engaged in a contentious battle over the payload capacity of their respective T1 and T2 models. Social media controversy erupted when the original payload rating of 300kg for Jetour's T1 and T2 vehicles was questioned for its safety in carrying a full complement of passengers and luggage.
In response, Jetour South Africa revised its calculation methods and increased the payload rating to 475kg, aligning with how other local OEMs measure payload capacity. However, the AA was not convinced and demanded independent testing before accepting the new figure. Jetour subsequently underwent independent testing in collaboration with the AA and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).
The AA discovered that the T2 Xplora derivative fell short of the updated 475kg payload rating by 20kg, and that no testing had been conducted for the T1 model, despite Jetour South Africa's claims. Jetour South Africa argued that their T2 Xplora's payload capacity was actually 479kg, just 4kg higher than the revised figure. Consequently, they confirmed that the payload capacity for the entire Jetour T2 range is officially set at 475kg, with a licensing solution for T2 customers being prioritized in consultation with the NRCS.
The AA, however, remains unconvinced that the T1 model has been approved by the NRCS. They clarified that the T1 has not yet received approval and that they are unaware of Jetour South Africa's source for the new T2 Xplora number. When questioned about the discrepancy, Jetour South Africa responded that the T1 is undergoing re-weighing, and the T2 Explora was re-weighed with the correct fuel load, confirming a payload of 479kg.
The AA warns that existing Jetour T1 and T2 owners may still face legal consequences, as the lower 300kg weight limit listed on their license discs may still apply during roadblocks or weighbridges. In the event of an accident due to overloading, owners could also be held liable by authorities and their insurance companies. Further updates from Jetour South Africa are anticipated, but the dispute appears far from resolved.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
