The End of an Era: Nissan’s 60-Year Manufacturing Run in SA Ends as Chery Takes Over Rosslyn

A storied chapter in South Africa’s industrial history is closing. After nearly 60 years of building vehicles locally, Nissan will cease manufacturing in the country, transitioning to an importer-only model. Its production future now lies with Chinese automotive giant Chery, which has agreed to acquire the land, buildings, and assets of the iconic Rosslyn plant in Pretoria.

The transaction, expected to conclude in mid-2026 pending regulatory approvals, marks a profound shift. Crucially, most of Nissan’s employees at the site will be offered employment by Chery on similar terms, a factor Nissan Africa president Jordi Vila called central to the deal.

Why Nissan Couldn’t Sustain Rosslyn

Vila explained that the plant’s viability crumbled after the discontinuation of the NP200 bakkie, its volume mainstay. While the company initially planned a replacement model for local build and export, a major global restructuring in late 2024 led to widespread project cancellations.

With only the Navara remaining in production at unsustainably low volumes, Nissan faced a stark choice: shut down or find a buyer who would preserve jobs and industrial capacity. “Number one was people,” Vila stated, highlighting the company’s social responsibility over the “easier” financial option of a closure.

Chery Steps In: “Fantastic News” for the Industry

After a year-long search, Chery emerged as the preferred partner due to its long-term investment commitment and willingness to operate within South Africa’s industrial framework. Industry commentator Michael Pashut of CHANGECARS hailed the move as “fantastic news.”

Chery benefits from acquiring a turnkey, world-class facility, avoiding the cost and time of building from scratch. For South Africa, it means preserving jobs, maintaining critical automotive manufacturing capacity, and securing fresh investment from a rapidly growing brand.

Unlike Nissan’s single-model output, Chery plans to manufacture multiple vehicle ranges at Rosslyn, ensuring better plant utilisation and economic viability.

Nissan’s Future: An Importer, Not an Exiter

While an industrial era ends, Nissan stresses it is not exiting the South African market. The company will continue to sell and service vehicles, with several new model launches planned for the 2026 financial year. It will simply no longer make them here.

The handover symbolizes a changing of the guard in the global auto industry. A Japanese pioneer, part of South Africa’s industrial fabric for six decades, is passing the factory keys to a ambitious Chinese successor, ensuring the Rosslyn assembly linesand the livelihoods they supportcontinue to hum into a new automotive age.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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