Rosslyn Reloaded… Nissan Hands the Factory Keys to Chery, While the Badge Lives On

Rosslyn just got whiplash… because Nissan has handed the factory keys to Chery, and the automotive tectonic plates in South Africa have officially shifted.

Yes. That Rosslyn. The legendary Pretoria-based plant that’s been bolting together Nissans since before your uncle’s moustache and mullet went out of fashion is changing ownership. In a move that’s less “panic stations” and more “carefully planned chess move”, Nissan and Chery SA have reached an agreement that’ll see Chery buying Nissan’s manufacturing assets in Rosslyn… including the nearby stamping plant… lock, stock, and robot arm.

Now before the keyboard warriors light their torches and start shouting “China’s buying everything!”, take a breath. This isn’t a smash-and-grab. It’s a calculated, grown-up deal… with paperwork, conditions, and those all-important regulatory approvals that move at the speed of a Bakkie in low range.

The plan is simple. Mid-2026, Chery SA takes ownership of the land, buildings, and manufacturing assets. Most of Nissan’s employees? They’re not being tossed into the Highveld sunset. The majority will be offered jobs by Chery… on substantially similar terms. Which in corporate speak means… same chairs, same shifts, same tea breaks… just a different logo on the payslip.

Jordi Vila, Nissan Africa President, didn’t sugarcoat it either. Rosslyn’s utilisation has been under pressure… global markets wobbling, volumes doing the limbo, and spreadsheets crying quietly in the corner. Rather than let the place fade into industrial nostalgia, Nissan found a way to keep the lights on, the people working, and the suppliers paid. Sensible. Almost… German.

And here’s the bit everyone keeps missing while shouting on Facebook… Nissan is not leaving South Africa. The brand will continue selling and servicing cars locally, just without owning the factory. Sales, distribution, support… all staying put. In fact, 2026 will bring fresh metal including the Nissan Tekton and the ever-mighty Nissan Patrol… a vehicle so large it requires its own gravitational field.

Meanwhile, Chery gets a ready-made manufacturing base in Rosslyn, a skilled workforce, and instant credibility in one of Africa’s most important automotive hubs. It’s less “new kid at school” and more “straight into the first team”.

So no, this isn’t the end of Nissan. It’s not the apocalypse. And Rosslyn isn’t turning into a shopping mall. It’s evolution… with torque specs and HR clauses.

Bottom line? The factory survives. Jobs survive. Cars keep rolling. And the internet still overreacts… as is tradition.