At the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, Mayada from Yalla Motor sat down with Mr. Ki Chuan Ding, the CEO of Jetour International, to get a candid answer to the question that every serious buyer in the Gulf is asking: Can a Chinese luxury SUV earn its place alongside the most reliable off-road legends in the region?
More Than Just Price
Mayada began with a direct challenge. Beyond the screens and price categories, what real arguments does Jetour offer luxury buyers that the G700 is engineered to thrive in the Gulf and maintain its resale value?
Mr. Ki did not hesitate to respond. "Everyone knows that Jetour has performed strongly in the Middle East, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the region as a whole," he stated. "For the G700 and the GAIA series, we already have a solid base because the Jetour image is strong and has been accepted by customers."
This foundation, as Mr. Ki emphasized, is not just about the product. Jetour’s network of regional professional partners, who handle vehicle display, availability, and overall customer experience, plays a crucial role in building credibility across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
What the G700 Offers
For a vehicle targeting high-end buyers in the Gulf, Mr. Ki was clear about what the product needs to deliver: advanced technology, a luxurious appearance, strong driving comfort, and, most importantly for this market, true off-road capability.
"Since we focus on off-road use, it must have a robust drivetrain and very good performance off-road," he told Mayada. The G700 is a PHEV, a plug-in hybrid, weighing over three tons yet capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in less than five seconds, showcasing the engineering ambition behind the badge.
The PHEV GAIA structure also brings a unique practical advantage relevant to the outdoor lifestyle culture in the Gulf. Last November, Mr. Ki noted, Jetour invited users to experience off-roading in Dubai, where the G700 demonstrated that its battery and integrated power outlets allow drivers to run air conditioning, cook, make coffee, or charge devices while parked in the desert without starting the engine. "With our PHEV, you can sleep in the car with the air conditioning running all night without starting the engine. It's quiet, safe, and produces no emissions while parked," he explained. "Once they try it, they'll understand the difference."
Customized Luxury Experience in Dubai
Converting interest into sales among high-end buyers requires more than just a strong specification sheet. Mr. Ki outlined a strategy in Dubai that reflects a clear understanding that luxury customers expect a distinctive sales experience.
The brand is establishing an exclusive showroom dedicated to the G700 and the GAIA series in Dubai, distinct in identity and feel from Jetour's standard commercial environment. "Although it is part of Jetour, we want to create a clear distinction," said Mr. Ki, noting how luxury sub-brands within major automotive groups maintain their own identities. The dedicated space will be staffed by a specialized team focusing solely on the G series.
Apart from the showroom, Mr. Ki explained that Jetour plans to enhance owner loyalty through organized lifestyle events, including desert tours, exclusive banquets, and regular owner gatherings. "For a luxury product, customer referrals take time, but we are confident in this process," he remarked.
Logistical Challenges and the Road Ahead
Mr. Ki also addressed a concern directly relevant to the region: the impact of ongoing logistical disruptions on vehicle supplies to the Middle East. He revealed that Jetour was planning to export over 10,000 units to the region and that the near-total suspension of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since early 2026 had created significant pressure on supplies.
The brand's response has been proactive. Regional partners maintain a safety stock sufficient to cover demand for one to three months, while Jetour actively explores alternative overland routes, including offloading vehicles at the Port of Oman and transporting them overland to UAE and Saudi Arabia. "We believe this is a temporary issue," said Mr. Ki.
On the after-sales side, Jetour opened a dedicated spare parts warehouse spanning 12,000 square meters in Dubai in December 2024, strategically located near Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport. Mr. Ki noted that the stock, currently valued at approximately 10 million USD, needs further growth to meet rising demand, with a goal of delivering parts from the regional center to neighboring countries within three days.
The Faith That Built Jetour
When Mayada asked about the mindset that allowed Jetour to grow from a single model, the X70, to 2 million global sales since its inception, Mr. Ki provided a candid and personal answer. In the early days, few in the management of Chery Holding Group believed in the project.
"But we had a dedicated team that believed in the project. We kept insisting, pushing senior management to believe in us, invest in us, and trust us," said Mr. Ki. The message he conveyed to over 1,000 global partners at a business conference in Beijing during the exhibition distilled into one sentence: 'Believe in the power of faith.'
This philosophy, judging by Jetour's rapid rise across the Gulf, is finding an increasingly receptive audience.
Yalla Motor attended the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition as part of a global media group to interview the CEO of Jetour International, Mr. Ki Chuan Ding.
