Quick reassurance for the growing number of SA buyers driving Chinese-brand cars: most Haval, Chery, Omoda, GWM, Geely and BYD vehicles sold in South Africa today come with full Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, and the Northly North-Link works perfectly in those that ship with wired factory CarPlay. Haval and Chery models are mostly wired and ideal North-Link prospects. Omoda, BYD and most current GWM TANK models already ship wireless from the factory and need nothing extra. A small number of older trims and one specific platform (Carbit Link) are the narrow exception. This guide walks you through every major Chinese brand sold in SA and tells you which ones the adapter helps and which already have wireless CarPlay built in.
Already know your Chinese-brand car? Browse the Northly North-Link adapter (R659, in stock, SA delivery). Otherwise read on for the brand-by-brand breakdown.
The Short Answer for Chinese-Brand Car Owners
Chinese-brand cars are South Africa's fastest-growing segment. Haval Jolion is in the SA top-5 best-selling SUVs, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro is one of SA's most popular crossovers, and BYD launched its first SA models in 2024. Most of these cars come with full Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support from the factory, contrary to what some buyers worry about.
Here's the verdict per brand:
Haval: almost entirely wired CarPlay and Android Auto across the Jolion, H6, H6 GT, H7, H9, H3 and Dargo. Coffee OS infotainment with 10.25-inch or 12.3-inch screens. The North-Link is a great fit for every current Haval. The older H1 and H2 had basic-radio variants on the lowest trims.
Chery: wired CarPlay and Android Auto across the Tiggo 4 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro Max, Tiggo 8 Pro and Tiggo Cross via Sky Link infotainment. The North-Link converts every Chery to wireless.
Omoda: wireless CarPlay and Android Auto standard on the C5, C9 and E5. Omoda is positioned as Chery's premium sub-brand in SA with dual 12.3-inch screens shipping wireless from launch. North-Link is not needed for any Omoda.
BYD: wireless CarPlay and Android Auto standard on the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal, Sealion 6 and the new BYD Shark PHEV. BYD's DiPilot infotainment with the 12.8-inch rotating screen ships wireless out of the box. North-Link is not needed for any BYD.
GWM (Great Wall Motors): mixed. The TANK 300 and TANK 500 ship wireless from the factory. The P-Series Alpha (luxury pickup) and regular P-Series top trims have wired CarPlay, ideal for the North-Link. The older GWM Steed has no factory CarPlay support.
Geely: the new SA launches (Coolray, Geometry, etc) ship with wireless CarPlay across most trims. Search the checker for your exact model.
The honest exception: a small number of older Chinese-brand trims (typically older BAIC models, plus some older Chery and similar) ship with a proprietary infotainment called Carbit Link instead of standard CarPlay. Carbit Link looks similar but runs a different protocol that the North-Link can't bridge. This is the narrow case where the adapter genuinely doesn't help. Most current Chinese-brand cars in SA do not use Carbit Link, so this exception applies to a small minority of buyers in this category.
If you're not sure which infotainment your Chinese-brand car has, search your exact year and trim on the free SA CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility checker. It uses Apple's official CarPlay list and Google's Android Auto list, filtered to South African specs.
The Cable Test: The 30-Second Self-Check
The most reliable way to confirm your Chinese-brand car works with the North-Link is the cable test. It takes 30 seconds and gives you a definitive answer.
Step 1: get in your car, start the engine, and grab a USB cable that matches your phone (USB-C for Android, Lightning or USB-C for iPhone).
Step 2: plug your phone into the USB port that connects to your infotainment system. For most Chinese-brand cars in SA this is the front USB port in the centre console.
Step 3: watch the infotainment screen. If standard Apple CarPlay or Android Auto launches on the screen (with the recognisable CarPlay or Android Auto user interface), your car has factory wired CarPlay or Android Auto and the North-Link will work.
If your car launches a different system (a screen labelled Carbit Link, a manufacturer-specific app, or just shows the phone as charging without launching CarPlay or Android Auto), then the North-Link can't help. You'd need an aftermarket head unit retrofit to add standard CarPlay or Android Auto.
The cable test isn't specific to Chinese-brand cars: it's the same test we recommend for any car. It just happens to be especially useful here because the variability across trims and infotainment generations is wider than with European or Japanese brands.
Search Your Chinese-Brand Car
The fastest way to confirm your Haval, Chery, Omoda, GWM, Geely or BYD has factory CarPlay or Android Auto is to search the SA compatibility checker. It has SA-specific entries for every major Chinese brand sold here, with verdicts per trim and notes on the Carbit Link exception.
Open the checker and search your Chinese-brand car to see the exact answer for your model before you order anything.
Haval: The Biggest North-Link Opportunity in the Chinese-Brand Segment
Haval is the best-selling Chinese brand in South Africa and the Jolion is in the SA top-5 SUVs. Every current Haval ships with Coffee OS infotainment (10.25-inch or 12.3-inch screens) and wired CarPlay and wired Android Auto across the trim range.
Specific Haval verdicts:
Haval Jolion (2021 to 2025): wired CarPlay and Android Auto on Premium (10.25-inch), Luxury (10.25-inch), Super Luxury (12.3-inch) and Hybrid HEV variants (12.3-inch). All four trims are North-Link compatible. SA Haval owners actively buy wireless adapters: the aftermarket dongle market for Jolion is well established locally.
Haval H6 (2021 to 2025, 3rd gen): wired CarPlay and Android Auto via Coffee OS 12.3-inch infotainment across Premium, Luxury, Super Luxury and HEV Ultra Luxury trims. North-Link works on every trim. Top SA Haval seller after the Jolion.
Haval H6 GT, H7, H9, Dargo, H3: all use Coffee OS with wired CarPlay and Android Auto. North-Link compatible.
Older Haval H1 and H2 (2017 to 2024): top trims with a smaller infotainment screen have wired CarPlay; base trims have basic radios. Cable test confirms. North-Link works on the top trims only.
For SA Haval owners on any current trim, the North-Link is the wireless upgrade. R659 vs the time and effort of replacing the head unit means it's the simplest fix available.
Chery: Wired Across the Board
Chery's SA range uses Sky Link infotainment with wired CarPlay and wired Android Auto across the Tiggo 4 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro Max, Tiggo 8 Pro and Tiggo Cross. The Tiggo 4 Pro alone moves over 800 units per month in SA, making it one of the country's best-selling crossovers and a strong North-Link prospect base.
Specific Chery verdicts:
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (2021 to 2025): wired CarPlay and Android Auto via the 10.25-inch Sky Link across Comfort, Elite and Elite SE trims. North-Link converts all three to wireless.
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro (2021 to 2024): wired CarPlay and Android Auto via 12.3-inch Sky Link on Distinction, Elite Plus and Elite trims.
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max (2024 to 2025): refreshed 12.3-inch Sky Link with wired CarPlay and Android Auto.
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro / Pro Max: premium 12.3-inch or dual-screen Sky Link. Wired CarPlay and Android Auto. Top-spec SA Chery.
Chery Tiggo Cross: 10.25-inch infotainment with wired CarPlay and Android Auto.
If you own any current Chery in SA, the North-Link works. Same setup, same wireless behaviour as a Toyota or Hyundai install.
Omoda, BYD and GWM TANK: Already Wireless
Omoda is Chery's premium sub-brand in South Africa, positioned for younger buyers. The C5, C9 and E5 (EV) all ship with dual 12.3-inch screens and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto standard. The North-Link is not needed for any Omoda.
BYD launched in SA in 2024 with the Atto 3, then expanded with the Dolphin, Seal, Sealion 6 PHEV, and the BYD Shark PHEV double-cab in 2025. Every BYD ships with the 12.8-inch rotating screen running DiPilot, which includes wireless CarPlay and wireless Android Auto from the factory. North-Link is not needed for any BYD.
GWM TANK 300 and TANK 500 (both launched in SA 2024) ship with Coffee OS 12.3-inch infotainment and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto standard. North-Link is not needed for the new TANK models.
If you bought any Omoda, BYD or GWM TANK in 2024 or 2025, your CarPlay or Android Auto is already wireless. Save your money.
GWM P-Series and Older Models: Mixed
GWM's pickup range is more varied:
GWM P-Series Alpha (POER Cannon Alpha, 2023 to 2025): luxury double-cab pickup with 12.3-inch infotainment and wired CarPlay and Android Auto. North-Link compatible.
GWM P-Series regular (2020 to 2025): top LT and Passenger trims have a 9-inch screen with wired CarPlay and Android Auto. North-Link compatible. Commercial variants have basic radios with no factory CarPlay.
GWM Steed (older 2017 to 2024 pickup): basic radio only, no factory CarPlay. The North-Link can't help. Aftermarket head unit retrofit is the only path.
GWM ORA 03 (Funky Cat, 2023 to 2024): dual 10.25-inch screens with wireless CarPlay standard. North-Link not needed. Note: Ora was withdrawn from SA in late 2024, so this applies to existing owners only.
The Carbit Link Exception
The one case where the North-Link doesn't work in a Chinese-brand car is when the vehicle ships with a proprietary infotainment called Carbit Link, instead of standard Apple CarPlay or Google Android Auto. The visuals are similar (a car infotainment screen showing your phone's apps), but the underlying protocol is different. Wireless CarPlay adapters communicate with standard CarPlay protocol; they cannot bridge the Carbit Link interface.
This is a small slice of the Chinese-brand market and is more common on older trims than current ones. Northly is upfront about this exception because hiding it would mean a buyer with a Carbit Link car orders the adapter, gets a refund, and tells their friends Northly oversold them. We would rather be straight about which cars the adapter cannot help with.
The simple way to know: look at the infotainment screen on your Chinese-brand car. If the system is labelled Carbit Link (or shows a Carbit logo), the North-Link won't work. If it's a standard Apple CarPlay or Google Android Auto interface, the adapter works as it does in any other car.
The cable test is still the most reliable way to confirm. If standard CarPlay or Android Auto loads when you plug your phone in, you're set. If a different system loads instead, you have one of the narrow exception cases.
Why the North-Link Works on Standard CarPlay and Android Auto
Wherever your Chinese-brand car uses standard Apple CarPlay or Google Android Auto protocols (which is to say: most current Haval, Chery, GWM P-Series Alpha, and regular GWM P-Series top trims), the North-Link converts the wired connection to wireless.
The adapter plugs into the USB port your wired CarPlay or Android Auto currently runs through, pretends to be a wired phone from the car's perspective, and lets your real phone stay anywhere within Bluetooth range. After a one-time pair, every drive auto-connects in 5 to 15 seconds.
The North-Link doesn't add CarPlay or Android Auto to a car that doesn't already have it. It doesn't unlock new apps inside CarPlay or Android Auto. It doesn't stream video. It doesn't create its own Wi-Fi hotspot. It connects directly to your phone's own Wi-Fi for the data transfer (no mobile data is used for the connection itself).
Setting Up the North-Link in a Haval, Chery or GWM
Step 1: plug the North-Link into the USB port your Haval, Chery or GWM currently uses for wired CarPlay or Android Auto. On most SA Chinese-brand cars this is the front USB port in the centre console.
Step 2: start the car. The adapter powers up automatically.
Step 3: on your phone, enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Pair the North-Link from your phone's Bluetooth menu and confirm the pairing prompt on the car's infotainment screen.
Step 4: wait 30 to 60 seconds for the first connection. The adapter and your phone exchange Wi-Fi credentials on the first pair. Every subsequent drive auto-connects in 5 to 15 seconds.
Step 5: leave the North-Link in the USB port. It's a small, low-profile dongle, light enough to forget about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Haval Jolion HEV have wireless CarPlay or Android Auto?
The current Haval Jolion HEV variants in SA ship with wired CarPlay and Android Auto via 12.3-inch Coffee OS. Top trims share the same infotainment generation as the non-hybrid Jolion. The North-Link converts the wired connection to wireless.
What about the Chery Tiggo 9?
The Tiggo 9 launched in SA in 2025 with a premium Sky Link infotainment package. Recent reports suggest wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on this top-spec trim. Confirm on the checker before ordering an adapter you may not need.
I have a Geely Coolray. Does the North-Link work?
The current SA Coolray has wireless CarPlay and Android Auto on most trims. North-Link is likely not needed. Run the cable test or check the compatibility checker before ordering.
Does the BYD Shark PHEV pickup support standard CarPlay?
Yes. The BYD Shark uses DiPilot infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto standard. North-Link not needed.
My older BAIC X25 has a screen but plugging in a cable doesn't launch CarPlay. What does that mean?
Older BAIC models (and some current trims) use Carbit Link or a similar proprietary system instead of standard CarPlay or Android Auto. The North-Link can't bridge Carbit Link. Your only path to standard CarPlay is an aftermarket head unit. WhatsApp Theron if you want recommendations for SA installers.
Will the same adapter work in my next Chinese-brand car if I upgrade?
Yes, provided the next car has standard wired CarPlay or wired Android Auto. The North-Link only converts wired to wireless. Move it from the current car to the new one, re-pair with your phone, and you're set. If the next car ships with factory wireless (most current Omoda, BYD and GWM TANK models), you can sell the adapter on.
Watch Out for Courier Scams
If you order any car gadget online in South Africa, scammers regularly send SMS or WhatsApp messages pretending to be your courier, asking for a small "customs fee" or "outstanding balance" to release your delivery. The link goes to a phishing page that steals your card details. Northly will never send a payment link after order placement. Courier fees are paid at checkout. If anything looks unusual, WhatsApp Theron directly or email sales@northly.co.za before clicking anything.
Ready to Add Wireless to Your Chinese-Brand Car?
If your Haval Jolion, H6, H7, H9, Dargo, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro, Tiggo 8 Pro, GWM P-Series, P-Series Alpha or any other Chinese-brand SA car has factory wired CarPlay and Android Auto, the North-Link converts it to wireless. R659, dual-band Wi-Fi, dual CarPlay and Android Auto protocol support, 35 verified SA driver reviews, and a real warranty honoured locally.
If you have an Omoda, BYD, GWM TANK, or any current car with factory wireless CarPlay, you don't need the adapter. Save your money.
Not sure about your specific model? Search your year on the SA compatibility checker. It will tell you in seconds whether the adapter fits your car. Compare wireless CarPlay adapters in SA to see how the North-Link stacks up against alternatives, or read our how wireless CarPlay works guide for the full background.
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