Auto trader Jetcon Corporation is enjoying renewed momentum in the local automotive market following the successful showcasing of its Beijing Automotive Industrial Corporation (BAIC) vehicles at the recently held Jamaica Auto Show 2025.

Held at the National Arena in May, the inaugural two-day auto show attracted over 12,000 patrons, most of whom were car enthusiasts and prospective buyers. For Jetcon, which holds the exclusive dealership rights for BAIC in Jamaica, the event proved to be a breakthrough moment for increasing the brand’s visibility and customer engagement.

Jetcon, which pivoted from selling used-car to focusing on new vehicles, now offers a range of BAIC models including the Beijing X55, which is a compact SUV competing directly with similar makes such as the Toyota Rav4 and Honda CRV. It also sells the BJ40 which is a rugged off-road SUV. Smaller, budget friendly options, such as the X35 and BJ35, are also among the line-up of vehicles. Prices for all models range from $3.99 million to $8.3 million.

“One of the biggest challenges that as car dealers we’ve all faced with selling Chinese vehicles is brand recognition. At the show, people, however, got the chance to see and feel the vehicles for themselves—and most fell in love with at least one model. Our main mission at the auto show was to gain exposure, and we achieved that and more,” Executive Chairman Andrew Jackson told the
Jamaica Observer.

According to Jackson, the auto show, which also allowed Jetcon to reach a far wider audience than it could through its showroom alone, helped to fuel a 30 per cent increase in orders post-event.

“Immediately after the show in June, we’ve noticed that we started to receive a number of orders. The month of July has also been going very well and we look to keep the orders coming as we move further into the year,” he said to the Business Observer.

Touting sales to be much better than expected, Jackson said the biggest challenge at the moment remains with getting the vehicles on the island quickly enough, especially as issues concerning shipping and logistics continue to create bottlenecks, causing some delay with back orders.

“We have therefore sought to increase our inventory to meet this demand, the fruits of which should be seen over the coming quarters,” the directors further told shareholders in the company’s latest financial report.

Pleased with the staging of the event, Jackson said he anticipates seeing it being held biennially, as an annual staging may be too frequent to have meaningful impact.

After more than 30 years in the used-car market, Jetcon exited the space at the end of 2024 amid rising competition and tighter margins. The strategic shift to new vehicles, its finances show is now delivering more tangible results.

Its latest financial filing for the second quarter, which ended on June 30, reported a net profit of $33.1 million—a sharp reversal from the $6.1 million loss recorded during the same period last year. Revenues for the second quarter doubled to $227.4 million, contributing to total revenues of $423.7 million for the first half of the year, and earnings of $41.8 million.

The company’s directors reporting on its solar division, which continues to augment revenue flows, said the segment also continues to make modest yet steady contributions. Through the division rolled out in 2022, the company sources and distributes Gamko solar panels, Amen inverters, and other lithium-ion batteries from Chinese suppliers.

“Nothing much has changed in this area in terms of sales…it has continued to show steady growth though it’s still small when compared to what the cars bring in for us,” Jackson further said. He, however, noted that sales from the solar division so far this year have doubled those of 2024.

The company’s management, cautiously optimistic about future expansions, said they are now more focused on driving stronger growth for the business led by an increased take-up of both its automotive and solar products.

“We’ve been doing some projections up to the end of next year and things are looking really good especially if everything goes as planned. We are currently comfortable with what we have on the market and as such we are not looking at bringing anything new in the current year or next….maybe in the following,” Jackson said.

“Right now we continue to settle down from what has been a rough transition from the used to new car market and as such we want to ensure that we are ready before looking to venture into any other project. Aside from that, the outlook over the next eighteen months is very positive,” he added.

JACKSON…immediately after the show in June we’ve noticed that we started to receive a number of orders. The month of July has also been going very well and we look to keep the orders coming as we move further into the year

The Beijing X55, which is a compact SUV, is said to be one of the most sought-after models. It competes directly with similar makes such as the Toyota Rav-4 and Honda CRV.