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JETOUR G700: the SUV that crossed the Yangtze River and climbed Volcán Barú

JETOUR G700: the SUV that crossed the Yangtze River and climbed Volcán Barú

In short: on October 16, 2025, near the Chinese city of Wuhu, an SUV drove into the Yangtze River and came out on the other bank 22 minutes later, after covering 1,480 metres, most of it on the water and driven by a jet propulsion system. It was the JETOUR G700, the brand’s high-end plug-in hybrid off-roader, and China’s specialist press recorded it as the first SUV to cross the Yangtze by water. Seven months later, on May 20, 2026, the G700 was launched in Panama with an expedition to Volcán Barú, the country’s highest point. It is one of the announced highlights of the Panama Motor Show.

The Yangtze feat

The crossing took place on the stretch of river beside Wuhu, the city where Chery, the group JETOUR belongs to, has its headquarters. According to CarNewsChina, the 1,480-metre amphibious run was completed in 22 minutes, against a current of 5 to 10 kilometres per hour, with the vehicle driven through the water by a jet propulsion system. It is not a standard feature meant for daily use, but a demonstration of the vehicle’s watertightness and wading capability, which the manufacturer’s data puts at around 900 millimetres.

Video “Jetour G700, un 4×4 de altura”, published by JETOUR Panamá’s official YouTube channel.

Key fact: the JETOUR G700 crossed 1,480 metres of the Yangtze River in 22 minutes on October 16, 2025 and was recorded as the first SUV to cross the river by water. In Panama it was launched on May 20, 2026 with an expedition to the 3,475-metre Volcán Barú.

What the G700 is

The G700 is the flagship of Zongheng, JETOUR’s high-end off-road line. It combines a petrol engine with a plug-in electric system: it can run in electric mode day to day and rely on the combustion engine on long trips or difficult terrain. Its all-wheel drive and wading capability aim it at mountain roads, rivers and beaches. JETOUR organises its range in three families: the main one, with urban and family SUVs such as the X70 and Dashing; Shanhai, with the T1 and T2 plug-in hybrid off-roaders, which sold more than 100,000 units in 2025; and Zongheng, headed by the G700. According to the brand, the G700 received the award for most innovative design feature at the Turin Automotive Design Awards.

Radar Panamá does not publish the specification sheet of the version sold in Panama because power and range vary by market. The official sheet is on Petromotors’ model page.

A journey across four continents

Market Milestone Date
China Commercial launch and Yangtze River crossing October 2025
United Arab Emirates Debut outside China November 2025
Costa Rica Presentation at Expomóvil April 2026
Panama Official launch and expedition to Volcán Barú May 20, 2026
Guatemala Official presentation May 21, 2026
Mexico Launch before more than 100 media outlets May 27, 2026
Brazil Debut at the Interlagos Festival August 2026
Australia Expected arrival Second half of 2027

Sources: CarNewsChina, Tico Urbano, PR Newswire, Motormanía, Car.Blog.br and CarExpert.

Why Panama was the first country in Central America

JETOUR presented the G700 in Panama a day before Guatemala and a week before Mexico, and described the Panama launch as a central step in its Latin American expansion. It is no accident: in 2025 it had already premiered the T1 for the region in Panama. The brand, distributed by Petromotors, is the country’s sixth best-selling and second Chinese brand, and Panama works as a regional launch platform thanks to its logistics and fairs such as the Panama Motor Show.

Where to see it

The G700 will be on JETOUR’s stand at the Panama Motor Show, from October 2 to 11 at the Panama Convention Center in Amador. Radar Panamá published a guide to the event.

Frequently asked questions

What is the JETOUR G700?

JETOUR’s high-end plug-in hybrid off-roader, flagship of its Zongheng line, with all-wheel drive and wading capability. It launched in China in October 2025 and in Panama on May 20, 2026.

Did the JETOUR G700 really cross the Yangtze River?

Yes. On October 16, 2025 it covered 1,480 metres of the river near Wuhu in 22 minutes, driven through the water by a jet system, according to CarNewsChina. It was recorded as the first SUV to cross the river by water.

Where can the G700 be seen in Panama?

At the Panama Motor Show, from October 2 to 11 at the Panama Convention Center in Amador, and at the branches of Petromotors, its official distributor.

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By Daniela Bohórquez

Daniela Bohórquez is a writer at Radar Panamá. Venezuelan, 30, she writes about travel, tourism and business, with special attention to reviews of destinations, hotels and services. She lives between Panama, Italy and New York, which gives her a comparative view of how business is done in each market.

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