Chery Group South Africa will build the Omoda C4 at its Rosslyn plant in Gauteng from the third quarter of 2027. The model will first be produced as a hybrid, with petrol and battery-electric versions to follow. Until local production starts, the company will import fully built units from early 2027.
Chery Group South Africa CEO Tony Liu said the C4 hybrid would be the first Omoda product to come off the Rosslyn line. Choosing a hybrid to lead points to the group’s expectation that demand for new energy vehicles in South Africa will grow. The plant is being recommissioned, with production scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027.
The C4 joins a list of models planned for the facility that includes the Chery Tiggo 4, Jaecoo J5, Jetour T-Series and the forthcoming Chery Grootman double-cab bakkie. Chery has said its shift from importer to local manufacturer will support assembly, supplier development and employment in Gauteng’s automotive sector.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Plant | Rosslyn, Gauteng (opened 1966, formerly Nissan) |
| Takeover completed | July 2026 |
| Phase 1 capacity target | 50,000 units a year |
| Local content target | 40% in the initial phase |
| Jobs targeted | Nearly 3,000 direct and indirect |
| Omoda C4 production | From Q3 2027, hybrid first |
| Other planned models | Tiggo 4, Jaecoo J5, Jetour T-Series, Grootman bakkie |
Chery agreed in January to buy the land, buildings and associated assets of Nissan’s Rosslyn operation, including a nearby stamping plant. Nissan kept its local sales business. The plant opened in 1966 to assemble Datsuns and had been underused since production of the NP200 half-tonne bakkie ended in March 2024. That left the Navara as its only model, selling a few hundred units a month locally, and Navara production ended in May 2026.
The takeover was formalised in July in the presence of Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Chery said it had kept most of the existing workforce. In the first phase, it is targeting 50,000 vehicles a year, 40% local content and nearly 3,000 direct and indirect jobs. Production of the Jetour T1 and T2 is due to start by mid-2027. Chery is the third Chinese carmaker to manufacture in South Africa, after BAIC in Gqeberha in 2018 and Foton in 2025.
The expansion comes as Chinese brands gain ground locally. New vehicle sales reached 61,645 units in September, up 12.7% year on year, and three Chinese brands made the top ten. Chery sold 3,004 units to rank seventh, Jetour sold 2,036 to rank ninth, and Omoda & Jaecoo sold 1,503. Together, the group’s three brands accounted for about 10.6% of the month’s sales. Several Chinese brands, including Geely, do not report to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa, so the full Chinese share is understated.
The C4 is the first model from the Omoda brand confirmed for Rosslyn with a specific production date. Chery has not disclosed planned volumes or the investment attached to the model.