05:27 02-02-2026

Nissan sells South African plant as part of global restructuring

Nissan sells its historic South African plant to Chery after 60 years, amid global losses and the Re:Nissan strategy to cut costs and stabilize business.

Nissan continues its painful business restructuring. The latest move involves selling its South African plant, where the company had been producing vehicles for over six decades.

Historic Plant Falls Victim to Optimization

The Nissan facility in Rosslyn had been operating since the 1960s and long served as a key production site for the brand in the region. However, the company confirmed an agreement to sell the land, buildings, and assets to the Chinese consortium Chery South Africa. The deal is set to be finalized by mid-2026, marking the seventh sale or closure of a Nissan plant in the past year and a half.

Financial Challenges

While Nissan's sales in South Africa dropped by about 20 percent in 2025, the decision stems less from local demand and more from global losses. The company posted its fifth consecutive quarterly net loss, with 2024 being its worst sales year in over two decades. Selling assets is seen as a way to free up resources and cut costs.

Nissan Scales Back

Despite ending production, Nissan will continue supplying vehicles to South Africa and supporting existing customers. The brand plans to launch new models, including an updated Patrol and the compact crossover Tekton. At the same time, it is implementing the Re:Nissan strategy, which involves selling its Japanese headquarters, reducing plants from 17 to 10, and abandoning several electric vehicle projects to stabilize the business.