Nissan to sell South Africa plant to China's Chery
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Nissan Motor said on Friday it would sell its manufacturing assets in Rosslyn, South Africa, to the local arm of China’s Chery Automobile for an undisclosed amount.
Nissan said Chery South Africa will buy the land, buildings and associated assets of Nissan’s facilities in mid-2026 if conditions, including regulatory approvals, are met, and a Nissan spokesperson said production of the Navara pickup truck—the plant’s only model—would end in May if the deal goes ahead. The Navara is produced for the local market and exported mainly to several African countries, and Nissan said the move is part of its turnaround plan under which it is closing or consolidating seven plants globally.
Nissan declined to confirm the production capacity of the Rosslyn plant, which was established more than 50 years ago, and Nissan Africa president Jordi Vila said external factors had affected utilisation and the plant’s future viability within the company.
Nissan said it has been hard hit in South Africa since production of its high-volume NP200 half-ton pickup ended in 2023, and it faces stiff competition from rival pickups including Toyota’s Hilux, Ford’s Ranger and Isuzu’s D-Max. Chery South Africa, the local arm of China’s third-largest automaker by volume, declined to comment on the agreement.
Nissan said most affected employees would be offered roles at Chery South Africa on similar terms and conditions, and added it would continue to sell and service vehicles in South Africa with several launches planned for the 2026 financial year, including the Tekton and Patrol models. Chery’s South Africa chief executive said in October that the company had been exploring options such as using another manufacturer’s facility, forming a joint venture or building a greenfield site in South Africa.
