Prime Highlights
- Chery officially launches its Rosslyn manufacturing plant, shifting from importer to local producer in South Africa.
- Production is set to begin in mid-2027, with capacity reaching 50,000 vehicles annually.
Key Facts
- Chery is a Chinese automaker founded in 1997, operating in more than 130 countries.
- The Rosslyn plant will retain all 692 existing employees and create nearly 3,000 new jobs.
Background
Chinese automaker Chery has officially launched its manufacturing plant in Rosslyn, near South Africa’s administrative capital, Pretoria, marking its shift from importer to local manufacturer and deepening its long-term commitment to the South African market.
Chery Chairman Yin Tongyue said at the launch ceremony that the investment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to South Africa, noting that the company has moved from being an importer to a manufacturer, and from a market participant to a long-term partner in the country’s industrial growth.
South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile said Chery’s investment would pave the way for technology transfer, automation, digitalisation and advanced manufacturing systems, adding that these developments would strengthen the country’s industrial capacity. He said that during a recent visit to China, several Chinese companies expressed interest in investing in South Africa, and that he had encouraged them to use the country as a gateway to expand across the African continent.
The Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, Wu Peng, said the Rosslyn plant and Chery represented two significant journeys converging, calling the partnership a sign of deepening cooperation between China and South Africa that would bring fresh momentum to bilateral ties in the auto sector.
Production at the plant is scheduled to begin in mid-2027, with an initial output of 15,000 vehicles planned for the second half of that year, rising to 50,000 vehicles annually at full capacity. Chery said it would retain all 692 existing employees while creating nearly 3,000 direct and indirect jobs. Founded in 1997 and based in Wuhu, Chery operates in more than 130 countries and has become one of South Africa’s fastest-growing automotive brands since entering the market in 2021.
