Chinese language Auto Large Chery To Purchase Nissan’s Manufacturing Plant In South Africa

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This follows Chery’s fast rise in South Africa’s new automobile gross sales charts. Chery SA will buy the land, buildings and related belongings of the Nissan services, together with of its close by stamping plant, in mid-2026.

South Africa’s automotive panorama is altering, as now we have beforehand coated right here. That is truly a very good factor as a result of the brand new gamers have proven that they’re extra keen to introduce plug-ins into the South African market, as now we have additionally coated right here. We acquired extra insights into this yesterday once we coated the information that these new gamers (largely new Chinese language manufacturers) equivalent to Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo, and naturally Haval, performed a key position in rising PHEV gross sales in South Africa in 2025 by a whopping 280% yr on yr. Chinese language automobiles generally are gaining traction in South Africa’s general new automobiles gross sales market with Chery Group, once we embrace gross sales from Jetour, Jaecoo, and Omoda, in addition to Chery itself, now propelling the Group’s gross sales to South Africa’s prime 5 within the new automobile gross sales charts. 

In South Africa’s new automobile gross sales market, Toyota led the best way as traditional in 2025 with 148,122 models, adopted by Suzuki with 71,560 models. VW was third with 63,667 models, adopted by the Chery Group with 43,300 models. Chinese language automakers are additionally gaining market share on the used automobile market as belief in after-sales and spare elements availability improves. Historically, European, American, Japanese, and Korean automobile manufacturers have dominated the South African new automobile and used automobile market. Going again maybe a decade or so, there was a time when the concept of proudly owning a Chinese language automobile in South Africa was maybe underlined by humor. Why would you purchase what was perceived to be an inferior automobile to save lots of a bit of cash when there have been so many nice options from Europe, Korea, and Japan? The fact right this moment is much faraway from that notion, and that is beginning to present in South Africa’s new automobile gross sales market, as proven by the Chery Group’s exceptional rise. In an attention-grabbing improvement, we simply acquired the largest information replace of this shift so far!

Nissan and Chery SA have simply introduced that they’ve reached settlement on the acquisition of Nissan’s manufacturing belongings in Rosslyn, South Africa. Topic to the achievement of sure situations, together with regulatory approvals, Chery SA will buy the land, buildings, and related belongings of the Nissan services, together with its close by stamping plant, in mid-2026. The settlement will see the vast majority of related Nissan workers provided employment by Chery SA on considerably related phrases and situations as right this moment.

Jordi Vila, Nissan Africa President, stated: “Nissan has a protracted and proud historical past in South Africa and has been working to seek out the most effective resolution for our folks, our prospects and our companions. Exterior elements have had a widely known impression on the utilisation of the Rosslyn plant and its future viability inside Nissan. By way of this settlement we’re in a position to safe employment for almost all of our workforce thereby additionally preserving alternatives for our provider community. This transfer additionally ensures that the Rosslyn website will proceed contributing to the South African automotive sector.”

Nissan provides that following the acquisition of the plant by Chery SA, Nissan will proceed to supply automobiles and providers to prospects in South Africa as earlier than, with a number of new automobile launches deliberate for fiscal yr 2026, together with the Nissan Tekton and Nissan Patrol.

Loads of South Africans observing the rising numbers of latest Chinese language automobiles on South African roads have been asking when a few of these automobiles will begin to be assembled or absolutely manufactured regionally. Properly, Chery has taken step one, buoyed by rising gross sales and demand for its automobiles. Chery can be stepping on the proper time. Whereas Nissan was not likely providing any BEVs or PHEVs within the South African market, Chery is now effectively positioned to benefit from South Africa’s new incentives for native meeting and manufacture of latest vitality automobiles. Ranging from the primary of March, 2026, automakers in South Africa will likely be allowed to reclaim tax amounting to 150% of investments they make into services and equipment for brand new vitality automobile manufacturing. This consists of HEVs, PHEVs, and BEVs. 

Pictures courtesy of Chery SA