Chery Takes Over Nissan Plant in Rosslyn
A New Chapter Begins
In May, Nissan South Africa stopped making cars locally. Just a few months later, on July 3, Chery Auto opened the same factory in Rosslyn, Gauteng, and announced it will start building vehicles there from mid‑2027.
Who Was There?
The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, Chery Chairman Yin Tongyue, Vice‑President Charlie Zhang, and Chery South Africa CEO Tony Liu.
What Will Be Built?
Chery has not revealed the full lineup yet, but several models are already hinted at:
- Jaecoo J5 – confirmed for local assembly.
- Lepas L4 and Chery Tiggo Cross – expected to be produced alongside the J5.
- Jetour T‑Series SUV – a larger SUV under consideration.
- KP31 bakkie – the world’s first diesel plug‑in‑hybrid pickup, also being looked at for local production.
Production Goals
Chery aims to roll out about 50,000 vehicles per year by the fiscal year 2028.
Modernising the Factory
The plant previously made Nissan Navara bakkies for South Africa and other African markets. Chery plans to upgrade the machinery and bring the facility back to full capacity.
Jobs and Skills
The investment is expected to create roughly 3,000 direct and indirect jobs. Chery will keep at least 692 former Nissan employees, offering them similar packages.
Local Parts and Suppliers
For the start, Chery will import most components in CKD (completely knocked‑down) form. CEO Tony Liu said the company will work with local suppliers step‑by‑step, targeting a 40 % local‑content share in the first phase.
Government Reaction
Deputy President Mashatile called the move a vote of confidence in South Africa’s people and institutions. He stressed that while simple assembly offers limited jobs, increasing local parts production creates bigger employment multipliers and supports long‑term, sustainable growth.
Chery’s Growing Presence
Since re‑entering the South African market in 2021, Chery has become one of the country’s top importers. In June alone, the combined sales of Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo and Jetour reached 6,072 units, placing the group ahead of Suzuki (5,689 units) as the second‑largest seller in the market.
Looking Ahead
Vice‑President Charlie Zhang highlighted that the Rosslyn plant is not just a business expansion but a long‑term commitment to South Africa’s economic and industrial development.
Conclusion
Chery’s takeover of the former Nissan plant marks a fresh start for automotive manufacturing in Gauteng. With plans to assemble several new models, boost local supplier involvement, and create thousands of jobs, the move could help shift South Africa’s car industry toward higher local content and stronger economic growth in the years to come.
