The JAC brand arrived in Israel only in July 2024 – just over a year ago – with a single model, and it is already set to achieve some impressive milestones in Israeli automotive history. The JAC 7 is the best-selling car in the country in 2025 and also the best-selling Chinese car in Israel ever. And if that wasn’t achievement enough, it managed all this during its first marketing year in Israel, and essentially worldwide.
It’s a remarkable accomplishment for such a young brand like JAC, a display of power that anyone can already recognize on the road, but only when we visited China for a global event could we truly experience the full force firsthand.
The event was hosted by the entire Chery group, which includes all of the group’s brands such as JAC, Omoda, Exeed (known as Excellents in China and other countries), GAC Motor, iCar, and more. The event included over 3,000 participants (journalists and dealers) from around 80 countries and lasted over a week.
The event was almost megalomaniac in scale, as we have mostly seen from Chinese brands, with only part of what was unveiled expected to arrive in Israel. The event also included a brief look at future models, which we are not allowed to expand on, and we will not risk violating the polite request from Chinese authorities.
To help organize all the information, we will break down the event by brand, focusing this time only on JAC – the brand that paved the way for success in Israel and is expected to expand soon with more versions and new models. JAC has many models and versions, but at this stage we can only detail two.
JAC 5 Hybrid: Aiming for the Mass Market
Arrival in Israel: December 2025
JAC is sold in Israel in two models: The 7, which successfully launched the brand in July 2024 with a gasoline version and later expanded to a plug-in version that accounts for about 90% of sales, and the 5, which joined in recent months in three stages. The first stage occurred last summer with a turbo-gasoline version; next, just recently, the second stage introduced a fully electric version; and the third stage, expected this December, will bring a hybrid version of the model, likely to outsell the other two given strong market demand for such vehicles.
We won’t go into design, dimensions, or interior space, as this is just another engine version of the same car already tested in Israel with other engine types. But some highlights are worth mentioning.
The design and dimensions of the 5 are similar to the 7, almost indistinguishable. The driver’s cockpit is button-free, which is visually pleasing but slightly inconvenient for operation. The interior space is among the largest in the segment, with plenty of room in every direction, especially in the rear seats and trunk. The model is also very well equipped. So far, these features are common to all JAC 5 versions (turbo, electric, and hybrid).
The powertrain is what differs between the 5’s versions, and following Chinese logic, the electric motor provides more power than the gasoline engine – the opposite approach used by most Western brands.
For the JAC 5, it combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine producing 143 hp with an electric motor producing 204 hp. Together, they generate 224 hp. The transmission is a hybrid-specific (DHT) single-speed unit, driving only the front wheels.
At the event, we got a very brief drive in the car, which demonstrated good performance, with quick acceleration and solid braking. Official performance is 0–100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, but in practice, thanks to the electric motor’s quick response, you get a stronger initial push, perfect for those who like to sprint off the traffic light and leave the pack behind.
Fuel consumption cannot be measured in such a short driving event, but it is clear the hybrid 5 can travel on electric power for relatively long periods, helping to keep fuel consumption low. The Chery FX Hybrid, built on the same platform and powertrain, boasts an official figure of 18.9 km per liter.
When it arrives in Israel in December, it will compete in a highly competitive segment against models like the Toyota Yaris Cross, Hyundai Kona, Chery Tiggo 4, and others. Its price is expected to be higher than the current turbo JAC 5, which sells for NIS 148,000–157,000.
JAC 8 Plug-In: 7 Seats, Sophisticated and Not Cheap
Arrival in Israel: November 2025
The 8 was supposed to arrive in Israel at the beginning of this year, but various reasons delayed the launch, and it is finally arriving now. This is a large SUV, offering dimensions almost identical to the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe, with a length of 4.82 meters and a wheelbase of 2.82 meters.
It is based on the updated Chery Tiggo 9, recently launched in Israel, and, like it, offers three rows of seats in a 5+2 layout. In China, it is sold in a different six-seat configuration with two comfortable “captain” seats in the second row, but this layout limits access to the third row, which fits in the narrow space between the second-row seats. The third-row space is reasonable for the dimensions, mainly for children, and when the seats are in use, the trunk volume is quite modest.
The design is very recognizable as a JAC, with a large, prominent grille that is integrated more elegantly into the overall look, making the 8 appear more impressive and dynamic than its smaller siblings.
The driver’s cockpit features dual 12.3-inch screens, serving as the instrument cluster and touchscreen, creating a unified appearance without physical buttons for controlling various systems. Materials feel very pleasant to the touch, with air vents designed similarly to Mercedes and a footrest for the front passenger.
The 8 will be offered worldwide in two plug-in hybrid versions. The first combines a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor, driving only the front wheels. The second pairs the same turbo engine with three electric motors for all-wheel drive. As expected, the power difference is dramatic: 360 hp versus 530 hp.
It’s not that the front-wheel-drive version lacks power – it has plenty – while the all-wheel-drive version offers something different, with 0–100 km/h in 5.8 seconds and excellent performance. For those who want even more, a 2.0-liter turbo engine version is sold in China, with 590 hp and 0–100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.
The 34 kWh battery provides a respectable official electric range of 134 km, with home charging up to 6.6 kW and fast charging up to 70 kW. It also supports external device operation (V2L).
The JAC 8 Plug-In price will be announced soon, but the competitive landscape is clear. The Chery Tiggo 9 Pro, similar in size and powertrain, was launched in early October in a single trim with all-wheel drive at NIS 245,000. The JAC 8 Plug-In is expected to be about 15% more expensive, similar to the price gap across most group models. There is strong demand and interest in 7-seater vehicles in Israel, but the 8 will place the brand in a price range it has not faced before.
The author was a JAC guest in China