It's official: Chery SA to buy Nissan's Rosslyn plant

Nissan and Chery South Africa have reached an agreement that will ultimately see the Chinese automaker purchase the struggling Japanese brand’s Rosslyn plant in Pretoria…

Chery SA agrees to buy Nissan’s Rosslyn plant
‘Majority’ of Rosslyn employees to keep jobs
Nissan brand says it will remain in South Africa

It’s official: Nissan has confirmed it has reached an agreement with Chery South Africa for the fast-growing Chinese automaker to purchase the beleaguered Japanese brand’s Rosslyn plant in Pretoria, where the latter has been building new vehicles for the past 60 years.

“Subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions, including regulatory approvals, Chery SA will purchase the land, buildings and associated assets of the Nissan facilities, including of its nearby stamping plant, in mid-2026,” Nissan SA said in a statement.

According to Nissan, the move will see “the majority of associated Nissan employees offered employment by Chery SA on substantially similar terms and conditions as today”. Jordi Vila, Nissan Africa President, added the company had “been working to find the best solution for our people, our customers and our partners”.

“External factors have had a well-known impact on the utilisation of the Rosslyn plant and its future viability within Nissan. Through this agreement, we’re able to secure employment for the majority of our workforce thereby also preserving opportunities for our supplier network. This move also ensures that the Rosslyn site will continue contributing to the South African automotive sector,” Vila said.

Nissan SA added that when the acquisition of the Rosslyn facility – once described as Nissan’s “light commercial vehicle hub” for Africa – was complete, the brand would “continue to offer vehicles and services to customers in South Africa, as before, with several new-vehicle launches planned for fiscal year 2026, including the Nissan Tekton and [Y63-series] Nissan Patrol”. The automaker would thus become as a sole importer.

What the move means for the Navara bakkie – which is the only vehicle rolling off the Rosslyn production line right now – is unclear. As a reminder, when the new D27-series Navara was revealed in November 2025, Nissan SA told us the D23-series model (which is also built in South America) would instead soldier on in the local market.

Back in May 2025, Nissan announced a worldwide “recovery” plan that included 20 000 job cuts as well as the closure of 7 production plants over the following 2 years. A report soon thereafter claimed the Rosslyn factory was one of the facilities on the chopping block.

Before that, in October 2023, Nissan SA entered a “formal consultation phase to restructure the business“. This followed the news that the NP200 half-tonne bakkie – which went out of production at Rosslyn in March 2024 – would not receive its planned replacement.

At Naamsa’s South African Auto Week 2025 in Gqeberha in October 2025, Tony Liu, Chief Executive Officer at Chery Group South Africa, told us the Chinese company was keen to start manufacturing vehicles locally, revealing that the firm was “in discussions” to potentially “take over” another automaker’s local factory.

Nissan officially opened its Rosslyn plant in 1966, meaning the factory has been producing new vehicles for 60 years. In addition to various Datsun and Nissan nameplates, the factory has also built models from other brands, such as the 1st-generation Fiat Uno and Renault Sandero. It’s not yet clear which vehicles Chery plans to build in Rosslyn.

In 2025, the Chery brand placed 8th on the list of South Africa’s best-selling automakers, posting a healthy 26.7% year-on-year increase in sales to reach 25 304 units (and growing its market share from 3.9% to 4.2% in the process). In contrast, Nissan suffered a 32.3% year-on-year decline in sales (on the back of a 23.6% drop in 2024) to end the year on 15 085 units. That saw the Japanese firm tumble 5 places to 12th overall, with its market share shrinking from 4.3% to just 2.5%.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Chery’s Acquisition of Nissan’s Rosslyn Plant

Q: When will Chery officially take over Nissan’s Rosslyn manufacturing facility?

A: Subject to regulatory approvals, Chery South Africa is set to purchase the Rosslyn land, buildings and associated assets in mid-2026. This ends Nissan’s 60-year history of local production at the site, which first opened in 1966.

Q: What will happen to the current Nissan employees at the Rosslyn plant?

A: According to the agreement, the majority of associated Nissan employees will be offered employment by Chery South Africa. These offers are expected to be on substantially similar terms and conditions to their current employment, aimed at preserving jobs and the local supplier network.

Q: Will Nissan stop selling cars in South Africa after the factory sale?

A: No. Nissan has confirmed it will remain in the South African market as a sole importer. The brand plans new-vehicle launches for the 2026 fiscal year, including the Nissan Tekton and the Y63-series Nissan Patrol.