Chery South Africa will be absorbing the plant, the workers and many attached Nissan assets.
A significant transformation is underway in South Africa as Nissan and Chery SA have officially reached an agreement for the acquisition of Nissan’s manufacturing assets in Rosslyn. This historic deal, set to conclude in mid-2026 pending regulatory approvals, marks the end of an era for Japanese manufacturing at the site and a major expansion for the Chinese automotive giant.
The agreement covers the purchase of the land, buildings, and associated assets of the Rosslyn facilities, including Nissan’s nearby stamping plant. The majority of Nissan’s current employees will be offered employment by Chery SA on terms substantially similar to their existing contracts. At least they’re not outright closing the plant down.
Jordi Vila, President of Nissan Africa, emphasized that the decision was driven by external factors affecting the plant’s future viability. I think we can all guess what factors these were. By transitioning the facility to Chery, Nissan aims to secure the livelihoods of its workforce and maintain the health of the local supplier network while ensuring the Rosslyn site remains a productive contributor to the national economy.
Nissan’s history in South Africa dates back to 1961, with the Rosslyn plant officially opening in 1966. For six decades, it served as a cornerstone of the local industry, producing legendary models like the Datsun 1200, the Nissan 1400 bakkie, and more recently, the NP200 and Navara.
Despite exiting local manufacturing, Nissan is not leaving the market. The brand will pivot to a sales and distribution-led model, with several high-profile launches scheduled for the 2026 fiscal year. These include the highly anticipated Nissan Patrol and the all-new Nissan Tekton, a compact SUV designed to strengthen Nissan’s presence in the competitive crossover segment.
Chery’s acquisition of the Rosslyn plant is a clear indicator of the brand’s meteoric rise in South Africa. After re-entering the South African market in late 2021, Chery has quickly become one of the country’s top-selling brands, recently overtaking established competitors to secure a spot among the top six passenger vehicle manufacturers. The same story happened here as well, with the brand having to re-establish itself in order to gun for major success.
The move to local assembly is a strategic response to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), positioning South Africa as Chery’s primary production hub for the continent. Localizing production will allow Chery to mitigate import duties and better tailor its Tiggo Pro and OMODA/JAECOO ranges to regional needs.
