Nissan Motor announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its underperforming manufacturing facilities in South Africa to Chinese automaker Chery Automobile, subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approvals. The decision to sell the plant follows a 20% drop in Nissan’s sales in the country in 2025 to 8,700 vehicles.
The Japanese automaker confirmed that Chery South Africa (Chery SA) has agreed to purchase the land, buildings and manufacturing equipment in Rosslyn, Pretoria, including a nearby stamping plant. The assembly plant, which produces the Nissan Navara pickup truck, has a production capacity of 45,000 vehicles per year.
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Nissan claimed that after the completion of the sale, which is expected by mid-2026, the majority of employees at its manufacturing operations will be offered jobs by Chery SA “on substantially similar terms and conditions as today.”
Nissan Africa’s president, Jordi Vila, said in a statement: “Nissan has a long and proud history in South Africa and has 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 utilization of the Rosslyn plant and its future viability within Nissan. Through this agreement, we are 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.”
Nissan confirmed that following the disposal of the plant, it will “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 Nissan Patrol.”
