• Jetour to produce T1, T2 SUVs in South Africa from 2027

• Chery to acquire Rosslyn plant, create 3,000 jobs

• Move supports expansion as Chinese automakers grow Africa presence

Chinese automaker Jetour said on Wednesday it would manufacture its T1 and T2 off-road SUVs in South Africa from 2027, with production set to take place at the Rosslyn plant its parent company Chery is acquiring from Nissan.

Chery plans to produce up to 50,000 units a year at the site and create more than 3,000 jobs across manufacturing and supply chains, according to a statement from Jetour.

Jetour South Africa Vice President Nic Campbell said the move would position the country as a key part of the brand’s global expansion.

The Rosslyn plant, about 30 km north of Pretoria, has been operating since 1966, according to Nissan. The transfer to Chery South Africa, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

Nissan said in January that about 700 of its 800 employees at the site would be offered positions by the new owner on similar terms.

The Japanese automaker, which had only been producing the Navara pickup at Rosslyn after discontinuing the NP200, will remain in South Africa as an importer.

Sales growth paves way for local production

Jetour, a Chery subsidiary, has sold more than 12,000 vehicles in South Africa since entering the market in September 2024, according to company data. The T1 and T2 models, launched in October 2025, accounted for more than 4,500 units.

The brand ranked 10th among best-selling carmakers in March 2026, overtaking Kia, BMW and Nissan, according to industry data. The wider Chery group also led the used-vehicle market in the first quarter, with the Tiggo 4 Pro topping sales on the AutoTrader platform.

Globally, Jetour sold 620,000 vehicles in 2025, up 11% year on year, with exports accounting for 40% of volumes, its international president Ke Chuandeng said on the sidelines of the Beijing Motor Show last week. The company aims to reach 2 million units by 2030, with half of sales generated outside China.

Chinese automakers expand manufacturing footprint in Africa

The Rosslyn investment comes as Chinese carmakers step up expansion across Africa. BAIC already operates an assembly plant in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.

China exported 4.91 million vehicles in 2023, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed, making it the world’s top car exporter for the first time.

The South African government welcomed the investment, saying it would help preserve industrial activity and jobs at the Rosslyn site.

Jetour also plans to introduce additional combustion-engine models and two plug-in hybrid vehicles in South Africa by the end of 2026, adding to the four models already on sale.

The growing presence of Chinese brands is reshaping a market long dominated by Toyota, Volkswagen and Stellantis, all of which operate assembly plants in the country. It also coincides with a strategic shift by Nissan.

The Japanese automaker, which is exiting Rosslyn after nearly 60 years, is investing $45 million to expand its Cairo plant as part of plans to turn it into a regional export hub.

Analysts say the shift reflects a broader realignment, with traditional Asian automakers focusing on North Africa while Chinese brands build an industrial base in the south.

Fiacre E. Kakpo