Chery will build its Omoda C4 at the Rosslyn plant near Pretoria, the company said on Wednesday. The vehicle launches in South Africa next year in petrol, hybrid, and electric versions. Chery wants to use the site as an African hub, aiming to produce 50,000 vehicles a year eventually.
The Omoda C4 will be produced at the Rosslyn plant near Pretoria, which Chery acquired from Nissan this year. It will be offered in petrol, hybrid and fully electric variants when it launches for sale in South Africa next year, the company said on Wednesday.
Sign up here.
Chery said production would be accompanied by a localisation programme aimed at developing South African suppliers and increasing the proportion of locally sourced components. That chimes with South African initiatives to increase domestic manufacturing and component sourcing.
Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) has an assembly and manufacturing plant in South Africa while GWM is considering whether to share a manufacturing facility with another carmaker or acquire an existing plant if available.
South Africa, now the continent's second-biggest automotive manufacturing hub, has become a key target for Chinese brands looking to build market share.
Chery has said it wants to establish South Africa as its African hub for manufacturing, exports, research and development.
The Omoda C4, aimed at younger buyers, will join a growing line-up of models set for local production at the plant, including the Jetour T series of SUVs.
During the ramp-up phase in the third and fourth quarters of 2027, the company expects to produce 15,000 vehicles, rising eventually to 50,000 a year.
Reporting by Nqobile Dludla Editing by David Goodman
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Nqobile is a Johannesburg-based reporter covering the South African retail, telecom and tech sectors. She has been a journalists for about 10 years. She joined Reuters in 2015 and has covered a variety of beats ranging from pharma, health to property and banking.