{"id":54597,"date":"2026-04-01T07:07:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T07:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=54597"},"modified":"2026-04-01T07:07:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T07:07:06","slug":"chery-south-africa-producion-starting-in-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2026\/04\/01\/chery-south-africa-producion-starting-in-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"South African production starting in 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p><h2>Plant retooling will soon commence and last for around 18 months before the first locally assembled products drives out of the facility.<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Having stayed mum until now, Chery has provided subtle hints of its production plans for South Africa following its acquisition of Nissan\u2019s Rosslyn plant outside Pretoria.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-end-of-an-era\">End of an era\u2026.<\/h2>\n<p>Amid a global restructuring involving the closure of several plants, the Japanese brand confirmed at the end of January that its 60-year-old facility had been sold to Chery without affecting its workforce.<\/p>\n<p>As part of the deal, the plant, surrounding buildings and stamping plant will become the property of Chery South Africa.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ALSO READ: Official: Nissan\u2019s Rosslyn plant acquired by Chery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In addition, all soon-to-be Chery South Africa employees will be offered the same terms and conditions of employment as those offered by Nissan.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThrough this agreement, we\u2019re able to secure employment for the majority of our workforce thereby also preserving opportunities for our supplier network,\u201d Nissan Africa President, Jordi Vila, said in a statement at the time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" alt=\"Nissan Navara Stealth South Africa launch review podcast\" class=\"wp-image-4089357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nissan-navara-stealth-podcast-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nissan-navara-stealth-podcast-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nissan-navara-stealth-podcast-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nissan-navara-stealth-podcast-456x304.jpg 456w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nissan-navara-stealth-podcast-825x550.jpg 825w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Nissan Navara Stealth South Africa launch review podcast\" class=\"wp-image-4089357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nissan-navara-stealth-podcast-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nissan-navara-stealth-podcast-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nissan-navara-stealth-podcast-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nissan-navara-stealth-podcast-456x304.jpg 456w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nissan-navara-stealth-podcast-825x550.jpg 825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sub>Nissan Navara production will conclude after five years at Rosslyn in May. Picture: Nissan<\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In a later interview with\u00a0<em>IOL<\/em>, Vila confirmed that production of the Navara will end in May after five years. Sales will, however, continue as the brand changes from an assembler to an importer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is a plus and a minus. We lose production credits, but we also lose fixed costs. Our intention is to keep price continuity where we operate,\u201d Vila said.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-start-of-a-new-beginning\">\u2026 start of a new beginning<\/h3>\n<p>In a newly released statement, Chery Vice-President and Executive Vice-President of Chery International, Charlie Zhang, said retrofitting of Rosslyn would soon start and continue for at least another 18 months.<\/p>\n<p>He added that production of the first South African-made Chery product will commence in 2027, but stopped short of confirming what it will be.<\/p>\n<p>Speculation has, however, suggested that the incoming KP31 bakkie could be the most viable candidate based on Rosslyn having only produced commercial vehicles until now in the shape of the Navara and erstwhile NP200.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"456\" alt=\"Chery KP31\" class=\"wp-image-4390786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775027221_857_South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/chery-kp31-768x548.jpg 768w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775027221_857_South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg?resize=640%2C456&#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"456\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775027221_857_South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg?resize=640%2C456&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Chery KP31\" class=\"wp-image-4390786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775027221_857_South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/chery-kp31-768x548.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sub>The concept Chery KP31 bakkie has emerged as the strongest option for local production. Picture: Chery<\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cChery\u2019s investment in South Africa is not only an important step in the company\u2019s globalisation development, but also our long-term commitment to the economic and\u00a0industrial development of South Africa,\u201d Zhang says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe project will directly and indirectly create nearly 3 000 jobs, covering multiple sectors including manufacturing, supply chain, and services\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" alt=\"Nissan's Rosslyn Plant facing reported closure\" class=\"wp-image-3971473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775027223_692_South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_02-1200x901.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_02-768x577.jpg 768w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775027223_692_South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg?resize=640%2C480&#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775027223_692_South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg?resize=640%2C480&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Nissan's Rosslyn Plant facing reported closure\" class=\"wp-image-3971473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775027223_692_South-African-production-starting-in-2027.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_02-1200x901.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_02-768x577.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sub>Nissan\u2019s Rosslyn officially becomes the property of Chery next month. Picture: Nissan<\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>As per the agreement with Nissan, Zhang said all the employees mentioned will be retained \u201cto ensure continuity and a smooth project transition\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChery\u2019s entry into South Africa is not a short-term decision, but a long-term commitment to the future,\u201d Zhang said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are bringing not only investment and products, but also confidence in industrial cooperation, investment in technological development, and a firm determination to grow together with South Africa\u201d.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-later\">More later<\/h3>\n<p>Aside from South Africa, products will also be exported \u201cto better serve the South African and broader African market\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>As it stands, more details of which products will be produced, whether under Chery or its Jetour, Omoda &amp; Jaecoo and iCaur brands, will only be revealed once it fully takes control of Rosslyn.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOW READ: Nissan Navara seemingly staying despite looming local production end<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p>Add The Citizen as a Preferred Source on Google and follow us on Google News to see more of our trusted reporting in Google News and Top Stories.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#South #African #production #starting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plant retooling will soon commence and last for around 18 months before the first locally assembled products drives out of&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54598,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54597"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54599,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54597\/revisions\/54599"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}