In a monumental shift for the South African automotive landscape, Nissan and Chery have reached an agreement for the Chinese automaker to acquire Nissan’s historic manufacturing facility in Rosslyn, Pretoria. This deal marks the conclusion of nearly 60 years of Nissan vehicle assembly in South Africa and signals the first major move into local manufacturing by a Chinese brand.
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Subject to regulatory approval, Chery SA is set to take ownership of the land, buildings, and the adjacent stamping plant in mid-2026.
The Rosslyn plant has been an industrial icon since the mid-1960s, producing everything from the legendary Nissan 1400 bakkie to the current Navara. However, the facility has faced prolonged underutilization and the looming threat of closure amid Nissan’s global restructuring.
For Chery, the move is a logical next step following its meteoric rise in the local market. By repurposing an established production site rather than building from scratch, Chery can rapidly establish the local footprint it has been teasing for over a year.
In a move that will likely relieve thousands of families, the agreement includes a focus on employment continuity. The majority of Nissan’s current Rosslyn workforce will be offered positions at Chery SA on substantially similar terms. This ensures that the expertise of the Rosslyn staff remains within the local economy and provides a “soft landing” for the supply chain during the transition.
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Despite exiting the manufacturing floor, Nissan isn’t leaving the showroom. Here is what to expect from both brands as they navigate this transition:
| Brand | 2026 Strategy & Highlights |
| Nissan | Will shift to a full-import model; launching the Tekton and a new Patrol in 2026. |
| Chery | Moving to local assembly; riding the success of the Tiggo 4 Pro (the top-selling Chinese model of 2025). |
| Chery (PHEV/HEV) | Expanding hybrid offerings with the Tiggo Cross HEV and CSH plug-in hybrids. |
Chery’s takeover of the Rosslyn plant is the crowning achievement of its recent performance in South Africa. The Tiggo 4 Pro has become a staple on local roads, consistently ranking among the country’s best-selling passenger vehicles. With the larger Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 SUVs gaining traction, local production will likely allow Chery to be even more aggressive with pricing and parts availability, posing a significant challenge to traditional market leaders.
