Chery Opens South African Manufacturing Plant at Former Nissan Facility in Rosslyn

Chinese automotive manufacturer Chery has officially launched its first South African manufacturing facility at the former Nissan plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion strategy on the continent.

The launch follows an agreement announced in January under which Chery acquired Nissan South Africa’s manufacturing assets. The investment transforms Chery from a vehicle importer into a local manufacturer and strengthens South Africa’s position as one of the company’s key production hubs in Africa.

Chery Commits to Local Manufacturing

As part of the acquisition, Chery confirmed it will retain all 692 employees previously working at the Rosslyn facility while creating more than 3,000 additional direct and indirect jobs across manufacturing, the supply chain and related services.

Speaking at the official launch, Chery Automobile Chairman Yin Tongyue said the investment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to South Africa.

“At Chery, we live by one philosophy: ‘In Somewhere, For Somewhere, Be Somewhere.’ It means wherever we invest, we commit. We become part of the local economy, part of the community and part of the country’s future. Today proves that commitment.”

He added that the company had transitioned from being an importer to becoming a manufacturer and long-term industrial partner in South Africa.

Multi-Brand Production Planned

The Rosslyn facility will manufacture vehicles across several brands within the Chery Group, including Chery, Jetour, Lepas, Omoda, Jaecoo and iCAUR. Jetour previously confirmed that production of its T-Series SUVs will begin at the plant from 2027, while Omoda & Jaecoo South Africa has announced that the Jaecoo J5 will also form part of the initial production line-up.

Chery will now begin upgrading the plant’s production facilities and supporting infrastructure ahead of manufacturing, which is scheduled to commence in mid-2027. During the initial production ramp-up in the third and fourth quarters of 2027, the company expects to produce approximately 15,000 vehicles before increasing annual production capacity to around 50,000 units.

Supporting Long-Term Growth

The company believes the investment will support its long-term growth ambitions in South Africa, where it aims to exceed 100,000 annual vehicle sales in the future.

Chery’s local growth has accelerated rapidly over the past two years. The company sold more than 25,000 vehicles in South Africa during 2025, ranking eighth in the country’s new vehicle market while increasing sales by 26.7% year-on-year and growing its market share to 4.2%. Those figures exclude sales from sister brands such as Omoda and Jetour, which also continue to expand their presence in the local market. Omoda alone has sold more than 20,000 vehicles since entering South Africa in 2023.

Chery says the Rosslyn investment will strengthen its manufacturing capabilities while supporting broader China-Africa industrial cooperation. By establishing local production, the company aims to deepen its presence in South Africa, expand regional exports and contribute to the growth of the country’s automotive manufacturing sector.