Chery Auto has officially inaugurated its manufacturing facility in Rosslyn, Pretoria, marking the company’s transition from importing vehicles into South Africa to establishing local production.
The plant, originally constructed in 1963, was acquired earlier this year from Nissan along with the site’s land, buildings, and a nearby stamping facility. The company plans to modernize the factory before vehicle production begins in the middle of 2027.
Plant Upgrade and Local Manufacturing
Chery said it will retain all 692 employees currently working at the Rosslyn facility while supporting the creation of nearly 3,000 additional jobs throughout its local supply chain.
Following a comprehensive modernization program, the factory is expected to reach an annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles operating on a single production shift.
The automaker has also launched a localization initiative targeting an initial local content rate of 40% by 2028 as it expands its manufacturing footprint in the country.
South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng, and Chery Chairman Yin Tongyue attended the inauguration ceremony.
Yin said the company’s international expansion strategy emphasizes long-term investment in local markets.
“Guided by the philosophy of ‘In somewhere, For somewhere, Be somewhere,’ Chery will strive to integrate into the local economy and community wherever it invests and in every market it enters.”
The company plans to develop the Rosslyn facility into a regional automotive hub encompassing research and development, manufacturing, supply chain operations, workforce training, and export activities serving southern Africa.
Expanding Presence in South Africa
Nissan previously stated that declining production volumes had affected the long-term viability of the Rosslyn plant within its global manufacturing network. Annual output had fallen below 25,000 vehicles in recent years, compared with approximately 54,000 units produced in 2012.
Since entering the South African market in 2021, Chery said it has become one of the country’s fastest-growing automotive brands.
According to the company, Chery Group ranked second in South African vehicle sales during the first five months of 2026, behind Toyota.
Its local portfolio now includes the Chery, Omoda & Jaecoo, Jetour, iCaur, and Lepas brands, offering gasoline-powered, hybrid, and battery electric vehicles.
The company also noted that the Jetour T2 became the first Chinese-branded vehicle to receive South Africa’s overall Car of the Year award in 2026, while Omoda has recorded cumulative sales exceeding 20,000 vehicles since its introduction in 2023.
With the Rosslyn facility, Chery said it has established an industrial ecosystem in Africa spanning passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, smart agricultural equipment, solar energy, mineral resources, robotics, and circular economy initiatives.
The company also announced plans to launch conservation projects in South Africa’s protected natural areas under its global partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
