Rosslyn has built cars under someone else’ s badge since 1963, most recently Nissan’ s, for six decades. That badge now reads Chery. The change closes a chapter that began when Nissan ' s global restructuring left the Pretoria plant under-used and up for sale, and opens one in which China ' s fastest-growing carmaker becomes a South African manufacturer rather than another importer competing on price.
Chery formally took control of the plant in July, at a ceremony attended by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and Chinese Ambassador Wu Peng. Production is scheduled to begin only in mid-2027. Chery has retained all 692 existing employees and expects the investment to create close to 3 000 direct and indirect jobs. Initial production is targeted at 15 000 vehicles in the second half of 2027, rising towards an annual capacity of 50 000 units.
The localisation test The transaction’ s public-interest conditions cover employment preservation and local supply-chain development. That makes parts of Chery ' s answer to South Africa ' s industrial concerns enforceable, although its broader ambition and 40 % local-content target remain to be delivered.
The company’ s arrival lands inside an active debate about rising imports and weakening local production. Imported light vehicles accounted for 69.1 % of South African sales in 2025, prompting government to review tariffs, the ad valorem tax, and automotive incentives. Established manufacturers have also called for policy
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