Nissan Motor’s manufacturing presence in South Africa is drawing to a close after nearly six decades, as the Japanese automaker agreed to sell its Rosslyn assembly plant outside Pretoria to China’s Chery Automobile, ending local vehicle production and shifting to an import-only model.

The move follows almost a year of speculation about the future of the Rosslyn facility, Nissan’s only remaining manufacturing site in the country.

The plant, which currently produces only the Nissan Navara pickup, is expected to end production in May, subject to regulatory approvals.

Cash-strapped Nissan said on Friday it would sell its manufacturing assets in Rosslyn to Chery for an undisclosed amount, adding that the timing of the transaction and its financial impact are still being assessed.

The sale forms part of the automaker’s broader turnaround plan, under which it is closing or consolidating seven plants across a global manufacturing network of 17 sites.

Global restructuring pressures

The restructuring drive follows a difficult year for Nissan, which reported a net loss of $4.5 billion for the year ended March, driven by rising restructuring costs and the fallout from President Donald Trump’s trade war.

In South Africa, Nissan’s production volumes have declined sharply over the past decade. Output fell to about 17,000 units in 2024 after the plant ended assembly of the NP200 half-ton bakkie. Annual production had hovered below 25,000 units in recent years, down from more than 54,000 units in 2012.

When NP200 production stopped in March 2024, Nissan explored building a replacement model alongside the Navara to keep the plant viable. Those plans were abandoned amid geopolitical turmoil in Western Europe, leaving the Rosslyn operation increasingly uncompetitive.

Navara production to end in May

Navara assembly is now expected to end toward the end of May, according to Nissan Africa executives.

The pickup will likely be imported from Thailand, although the company said it was too early to assess the impact on pricing.

Despite the end of local manufacturing, Nissan said it is not exiting the South African market.

The company plans to continue selling and servicing vehicles locally, with new launches planned for 2026, including the Nissan Tekton and Nissan Patrol.

Jobs and Chinese expansion

The agreement provides some stability for workers and suppliers.

Chery South Africa will purchase the land, buildings and associated assets of the Nissan facilities, including a nearby stamping plant, with completion expected in mid-2026, pending regulatory approvals.

About 900 Nissan employees will be offered jobs by Chery on “substantially similar terms and conditions as today”.

“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,” said Nissan Africa president Jordi Vila.

“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 were able to secure employment for the majority of our workforce, thereby also preserving opportunities for our [parts] supplier network.

“This move also ensures that the Rosslyn site will continue contributing to the South African automotive sector.”

Chery has yet to confirm what vehicles it plans to assemble at Rosslyn or the purchase price. The Chinese automaker, which sells more than 2,000 vehicles a month under the Chery brand and nearly 5,000 units across its wider portfolio, has previously said it was considering using an existing facility, forming a joint venture or building a greenfield plant in South Africa (Business Insider Africa)