Rumours abound about Merc’s East London plant
More and more rumours are surfacing about the possible sale, or part sale, of Mercedes-Benz’s East London manufacturing plant.
- Industry News
- 11 March 2026
Daring Africa 2024, an expedition of five Nissan Navara pick-ups and an X-Trail SUV, arrived in the capital of Mozambique on the second leg of the Japanese carmaker’s odyssey up Africa.
“This is a celebration of the vehicles we build in Africa, especially the Navara, and the hands that build them,” explains Nissan Managing Director for South Africa and Independent Markets Africa, Maciej Klenkiewicz. “This journey links our African pick-up manufacturing hub in South Africa with our Passenger Vehicle assembly plant in Cairo, while allowing us to showcase the incredible partner network we have along the route.”
Welcoming the convoy to the Maputo showroom, Nissan Mozambique Managing Director, Ivan Busi, said he was very excited about the initiative. “Nissan is a brand that believes in Africa and is a popular choice for motorists in Mozambique. The Navara is a particularly important model for us given its versatility, ruggedness and levels of comfort.
“It is a great privilege to welcome the convoy to our country and have the opportunity to show off the capabilities of the Navara at some of Mozambique’s most picturesque sites, as well as testing it on some of our toughest terrains.”
Tomorrow (Friday 12th), selected media and key Nissan Mozambique fleet clients are going to drive the Navara up the coast to Chidenguele and Inhassoro for an immersive experience of the vehicle’s capability, before spending time with local executives at a fireside chat to discuss the brand and Africa.
“Daring Africa is also a great showcase of Nissan Mozambique,” says Ivani, “not only do we sell the full range of Nissan vehicles, including the Navara, we also support every purchase through our extensive network of branches in dealerships in Maputo, Nampula, Beira, Moatize and Pemba, each one of which has recently undergone refurbishments to ensure they meet the global standards we expect from them.”
Daring Africa left Rosslyn, Nissan Africa’s home of the Navara on an eight-country odyssey that will ultimately end in Cairo. From Mozambique, the expedition will head to Zimbabwe, then Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya before transitioning to Egypt.
Last year, Nissan Africa opened new markets for the Navara in Algeria and Libya, with the vehicle scheduled to be introduced to Egypt later this year.
More and more rumours are surfacing about the possible sale, or part sale, of Mercedes-Benz’s East London manufacturing plant.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday (10 March) they would not let any oil and other related products out of the Middle East until United States (US) and Israeli attacks cease, prompting US President Donald Trump to threaten to hit Iran "twenty times harder" if it blocked exports.
With tensions and conflict in the Middle East raising concerns about global energy supplies, attention has again focused on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important oil shipping routes in the world.