The Chinese-made Chana car is making inroads into Africa, with a dealer in South Africa, the continent's largest economy, hoping to create a sizable market for the brand.

To prove that the Chana is as good as others in its category, the South African dealer has embarked on a 54-day road test campaign covering 19,000 kilometres between China and South Africa.

"The impression about Chinese cars is not good. We are on a mission to prove that the Chana cars are reliable and durable," said Samuel van Niekerk, chief financial officer of Autohaus Gobel Group, which sold about 3,000 Chanas between October and March.

Van Niekerk and his team were hosted by South African consul-general Agnes Nyamande-Pitso in Dubai recently on their way to Johannesburg from Chongqing in China.

They were driving two commercial and two passenger Chana vehicles of 1.3-litre capacity.

The team is scheduled to terminate the journey on August 4.

Van Niekerk said the company will find buyers among those looking for an affordable personal car and small-scale businesses that want to buy an additional car. He said Chana will cost about 10 per cent less than other cars in the same category.