Chery South Africa (SA) says its newly acquired plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, will be recommissioned and retrofitted over the next 12 to 18 months, with the first locally produced Chery-branded vehicles to roll off the assembly line by mid-2027.

The Chinese manufacturer says it plans to invest in the modification and upgrade of the former Nissan facility to quickly bring the factory to full production capacity.

This announcement was made at the sixth yearly South Africa Investment Conference held in Johannesburg this week.

Four years on from re-entering the local automotive market, Chery has become a consistent top-ten player in local sales, with an average of 50 000 units sold a year, along with a rapidly expanding network of 150 dealers nationwide.

The Rosslyn investment signifies a new chapter for the brand, as it will transition from an importer to a local manufacturer.

"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,” said Chery International executive VP Charlie Zhang.

“Chery's investment in South Africa is not only an important step in the company's globalisation development, but also in our long-term commitment to the economic and industrial development of South Africa.

“The project will directly and indirectly create nearly 3 000 jobs, covering multiple sectors, including manufacturing, the supply chain and services,” he added.

“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.”

Chery also believes that local manufacturing will enhance its market position by offering greater flexibility, shorter lead times, and a stronger competitive edge within South Africa, as well as in relation to future exports across the rest of Africa.

“Moving from an importer to a manufacturer deepens our roots in this country,” said Zhang.

“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.”

“Chery's entry into South Africa is not a short-term decision, but a long-term commitment to the future,” noted Zhang.

“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.”

Chery SA represents the Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo, Lepas and ICaur brands.