Race 2 of South Africa’s premier horseracing event – which dates all the way back to 1897 and is held annually on the first Saturday of July at Greyville Racecourse in Durban – was named in honour of the fast-growing automotive brand. Won by DIANI just after midday, the 1400-metre race was officially dubbed the “OMODA MR 96 Handicap”.

Of course, the Hollywoodbets Durban July is not just about the horses. In fact, this storied equestrian event long ago also became one of the most highly regarded fashion and entertainment extravaganzas on the local celebrity calendar, aligning perfectly with the OMODA brand. Not only do the scores of high-profile guests arrive dressed to the nines, but several spectacular fashion shows run throughout the day.

“As is clearly evident from OMODA’s avant-garde design philosophy – which integrates elements of both minimalism and futurism – fashion and style are key pillars of our brand. That made OMODA the ideal official vehicle partner for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, allowing us to speak directly to our ever-growing audience,” said Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager OMODA & JAECOO.

At the event, OMODA displayed both the strikingly styled C5 – which is now also available in a competitively priced Style specification, named in honour of the sense of fresh fashion inherent to the OMODA O-CLUB, the brand’s exclusive fan community – and the new C9 flagship. Set to hit the market in South Africa soon, the latter model features a distinctly coupé-like shape and, like the popular C5, is filled to the brim with high-end technology.

Taking direct inspiration from the C5 and C9, OMODA’s purpose-built stands at the Hollywoodbets Durban July were futuristically styled and technologically advanced, drawing celebrity visitors such as Mohale Motaung and Boity Thulo. Highlights included giant high-resolution screens, eye-catching LED furniture and even OMODA’s remarkable robot dog, which stole the spotlight with its incredibly realistic canine-like mannerisms.


Notes to editor

OMODA is a forward-looking premium automotive brand founded in 2022 and already operating in South Africa as well as several other major markets, such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Mexico, Chile, Russia and Kazakhstan. OMODA also recently entered the European space, where it made its highly anticipated debut in Spain.

Established as an independent brand within the Chery Group, the OMODA name is an amalgamation of concepts key to the marque’s philosophy. The “O” stands for oxygen, new life and vitality, while the term “MODA” refers to the modern and fashion-forward characteristics of this fresh automotive brand.

The OMODA range in South Africa currently comprises as many as 6 derivatives of the C5, including the limited-edition GT model. The sporty C5 has already been selected as a finalist in the 2024 South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition, where it is competing in the Compact Family category. Meanwhile, the C9 flagship and the fully electric E5 are scheduled to make local landfall later this year.

OMODA currently boasts as many as 39 dedicated dealerships around South Africa, carefully selected to cover all of the country’s major metropolitan areas and cities. The brand’s dealer network offers OMODA customers a dedicated range of sales and support services, and is backed by the Chery Group’s well-established parts warehouse and customer-care office.

OMODA ships standard with a generous 5-year/70 000 km service plan (the C5 Style comes with a 2-year/30 000 km arrangement, with an option to extend) and a lengthy 5-year/150 000 km factory warranty (as well as Roadside Assist for 5 years), while the vehicle’s engine is covered by an industry-leading 10-year/1-million km warranty (the latter linked to the first owner).

Through exceptional product quality, ongoing technological innovation, avant-garde design and comprehensive strategic planning, OMODA will grow its stable of products to offer local customers a wide range of high-quality, intelligent models.