Omoda C3 History

The Omoda C3 (also marketed as the Omoda 3 depending on region) was unveiled on 26 April 2025 in Wuhu, Anhui, and made its global show debut at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show. At 4,420 mm it slots below the Omoda 5 as the brand's entry crossover, sized to compete with subcompact rivals.

Design language takes a dramatic turn: the C3's exterior draws on angular, geometric lines with Lamborghini Urus comparisons frequently made in the automotive press, while the interior features a wraparound 'Starship Cockpit' with ambient lighting running door to door. Global market launches were targeted from October 2025 onward, with South Africa slated for early 2026 and right-hand-drive markets such as the UK not expected until around October 2026. Export powertrains centre on a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol with a new dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels, joined by a 1.5-litre petrol hybrid pairing a compact e-motor with a small (~1.8 kWh) battery and a dedicated hybrid transmission for a combined output near 201 hp and 310 Nm; a fully electric derivative is anticipated later.