Additionally, most of Nissan\u2019s employees at the site will be offered employment by Chery on similar terms and conditions, a point that Nissan Africa president Jordi Vila said was central to the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNissan 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,\u201d Vila said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He noted that external factors had significantly affected the utilisation of the Rosslyn plant and its future viability within Nissan\u2019s global manufacturing network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that the agreement secured employment for the majority of the workforce, helps preserve opportunities for suppliers, and ensures the site continues contributing to the South African automotive sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Nissan will no longer build vehicles locally, the company stressed that it is not exiting the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will continue to sell and service vehicles in South Africa, with several new model launches planned for the 2026 financial year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to the media at the Nissan GTR&Z AGM in Irene, Pretoria, Nissan Africa president Jordi Vila explained<\/a> that the challenges facing Rosslyn became more noticeable after the end of NP200 bakkie production.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once that model was discontinued, Nissan needed a replacement to keep the plant operational and financially sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company initially explored introducing a new locally built vehicle to replace the NP200, aimed at both the domestic market and exports to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, those plans were derailed when Nissan entered a major global restructuring towards the end of 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA number of projects were cancelled. From that point, we knew the solution we had initially planned for was no longer possible,\u201d Vila said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the plant continued to manufacture the Navara for local sale and export into Africa, volumes were insufficient to sustain the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nissan was then faced with a choice to close the plant or find an alternative that preserved jobs and industrial capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vila acknowledged that shutting down would have been the easier option from a purely financial perspective, but it was not aligned with the company\u2019s priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNumber one was people,\u201d he said, followed by business continuity, brand and reputation, and then cash flow and profit. \u201cWe are a business, but we also have a social responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This led to a year-long search for a partner. Several potential buyers expressed interest, but many were focused solely on the physical assets and not the workforce, which Nissan viewed as unacceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vila said Chery stood out because of its willingness to invest for the long term and to operate within South Africa\u2019s established rules of engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGood news for the local automotive industry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nissan-rosslyn-plant-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n