Nissan agreed on 23 January to sell its manufacturing assets in Rosslyn, near Pretoria, to Chery SA, the South African arm of China's Chery Automobile. The terms were not disclosed.
Why Chery SA is buying Nissan South Africa (Rosslyn manufacturing assets)
Nissan Africa president Jordi Vila said external factors had hurt the utilisation of the Rosslyn plant and its future viability within Nissan, and that the sale would secure jobs for most of the workforce and preserve opportunities for suppliers. The plant has built the Navara pick-up.
“External factors have had a well-known impact on the utilisation of the Rosslyn plant and its future viability within Nissan.”
Deal terms and financing
Chery SA is buying the land, buildings and associated assets of the Nissan facilities, including the nearby stamping plant. Most associated Nissan employees will be offered employment by Chery SA on substantially similar terms and conditions. Nissan will continue to sell and service vehicles in South Africa, with launches including the Tekton and Patrol planned for fiscal 2026.
Regulatory approvals and timing
The sale was subject to conditions including regulatory approvals, with completion targeted for mid-2026. Cars.co.za reported that Chery Group formally took over the factory at a handover ceremony on 3 July 2026 attended by Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Market context
According to Cars.co.za, Chery plans a first phase of 50,000 units a year at the site, with Jetour T1 and T2 crossovers due to enter production by mid-2027, the Jaecoo J5 as a core model and a 40% local-content target in the initial phase.
