Four years on from re-entering the South African automotive market, Chery has become a consistent top-10 player in local sales, with an average of 50 000 units sold annually, along with a rapidly expanding network of 150 dealers nationwide.
Now, in a major move, Chery South Africa has officially confirmed plans to invest in a local manufacturing plant, previously the Nissan plant in Rosslyn.
This announcement was made at the 6th annual South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC 2026) held today at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
"This investment is a vote of confidence in South Africa and a direct result of the unwavering support from our customers and dealer network over the past four years," says Charlie Zhang, Vice President of Chery Auto and Executive Vice President of Chery International.
This landmark strategic investment signifies a new chapter for the brand, transitioning from a successful importer to a committed local manufacturer and investor in the South African economy.
The site which has been secured in Rosslyn, Pretoria will be re-commissioned and retrofitted over the next 12 to 18 months, with the first locally produced Chery vehicles expected to roll off the assembly line by mid-2027. Chery plans to invest in modification and upgrade of the utilities and facilities to quickly bring the factory to full production capacity.
This transition to local production is set to deliver significant positive impact for South Africa. This includes the creation of more employment, as well as retaining most of the current employees at the existing plant, previously operated by another manufacturer, to ensure continuity and a smooth project transition.
“Chery's investment in South Africa is not only an important step in the company's globalization development, but also our long-term commitment to the economic and industrial development of South Africa,” Charlie says. “The project will directly and indirectly create nearly 3 000 jobs, covering multiple sectors including manufacturing, supply chain, and services.
We will also focus on developing a local supplier network that is better equipped to support the local parts industry. We believe this will make the overall automotive industry more competitive”.
Local manufacturing will also enhance Chery’s market position by offering greater flexibility, shorter lead times, and a stronger competitive edge within South Africa, as well as for future exports across Africa.
"Moving from an importer to a manufacturer deepens our roots in this country. It allows us to better serve the South African and broader African market, enhances consumer confidence through local presence, and aligns our future growth directly with the growth of the local automotive industry," Zhang says.
Since its entry into the market, Chery South Africa, representing the Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo, Lepas & ICaur brands, has achieved significant growth. Chery South Africa's evolution into a local producer marks a pivotal moment, contributing to the government's objectives for localisation, job creation, and industrial development within the automotive sector.
“Chery's entry into South Africa is not a short-term decision, but a long-term commitment to the future. We 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,” he says.
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