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TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Nissan's struggles open door for Chinese carmakers in SA
Chery SA CEO Tony Liu said the Chinese automaker is exploring all available avenues to establish its first production facility in the country. Liu was responding to a question from TimesLIVE Motoring about whether an established plant, such as the Nissan Rosslyn operation whose future is under doubt, might be of interest. News agency Reuters reported in May that Japanese manufacturer Nissan was considering global plant closures, potentially including shutting the doors of its Tshwane facility. 'SA boasts a proud legacy of local vehicle manufacturing, and Chery is committed to strengthening the industry for generations to come. This would also allow us to enhance our contribution to local communities,' he said. According to Liu, the brand's outlook features two potential pathways: partnering with an existing manufacturer to 'help address current production gaps' or set up its own, dedicated manufacturing plant, realising the 'full production capabilities' of Chery. The CEO said the manufacturer's customer base, which grew to 55,000 over the three years since market re-entry, represents critical mass that has justified a feasibility study to assess how local manufacturing could support its long-term volume aspirations. 'Beyond market size, SA being the largest new car market in Sub-Saharan Africa, Chery recognises SA's role as a gateway into Africa through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.' Liu said local manufacturing would also enable contribution to the domestic supply chain, with commitment to broad-based black Economic empowerment requirements. Meanwhile, Nissan SA representatives have countered the notion that the Rosslyn plant is on borrowed time. 'Nissan wants to clarify the news is not based on any official information of the company,' said head of communications Ramy Mohareb. 'At this stage we are not able to inform you which plants will be affected. Our focus remains on our operations and the dedicated workforce that drives our success,' he told TimesLIVE Motoring. The Rosslyn plant employs 1,080 people and has been operational since 1966. Mohareb was unable to comment on the facility's output, or elaborate on plans to sustain its business and protect local jobs and retailers. In 2024 the brand's top-selling NP200 half-tonne bakkie, produced at Rosslyn, was discontinued. The plant only produces the one-tonne Navara. A well-placed industry insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed the view that Nissan SA, in its present guise, would struggle to find longevity. 'The key to being a successful manufacturer in SA is sufficient export volume, which Nissan never had. The best-selling SA cars and light commercial vehicles only manage about 25,000 units per year, insufficient for competitive manufacturing. This needs to be complemented with a proper export programme to reach a viable volume,' the source said. 'Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Ford have the programmes but Nissan, with a few thousand Navara exports into Africa, aren't close. Getting there is a parent company decision. The SA factory needs to be part of the global supply chain, not a local market factory with a handful of exports to small regional markets.' According to the insider, the peak of Nissan SA's sales dates as far back as the period of 1976 to 1978 when it was the leading manufacturer in SA. 'Its most successful models included the original Datsun 1200s and the B120/140 bakkie, the original Datsun 1600s and the Skylines. The first Maxima and Primera were great cars but not quite the sellers they should have been. On the bakkie side, the Hardbody took the fight to the Hilux, but this faded as the last Hardbody's life was extended, ultimately a life of more than 20 years.' 'In my view, Nissan's product offering didn't keep up with the changing demands of the SA buyer. As the market evolved, moving from sedans to SUVs and crossovers, Nissan's range reduced significantly and the individual products were less competitive within their respective segments.' Mikel Mabasa, CEO of Naamsa, the national automotive business council, said the organisation was waiting for Nissan SA to provide an outline of its local plans. He said Naamsa was concerned by media reports casting doubt over the brand's future in SA. 'Any [possible] closure is not something we take lightly. We have a lot of people employed through such plants, not only those on the production line, but the value chain, including those who support the plant with components. If Nissan decides to discontinue operations, we will activate discussions with them directly, understanding their position and identifying how we can support the future of the facility,' Mabasa said. 'Naamsa will be at the forefront in working with partners to see what can be done to safeguard the plant for future operations,' he said, referencing the 2017 disinvestment of General Motors, where similar conversations were had. 'Isuzu was able to raise their hand and the Gqeberha plant was saved.' Separately, Mabasa confirmed Naamsa had been in discussions with brands who are importers, eyeing SA as a destination for manufacturing operations. He said Naamsa welcomed intentions for new operations by brands, whether it involves repurposing existing plants or establishing a greenfield investment from the ground up. Spokesperson for the department of trade, industry and competition, Bongani Lukhele, said Nissan had not provided formal communications on the issue, and the department was therefore not in a position to respond to queries.
Eyewitness News
19-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
EC authorities concerned over increase in road fatalities
JOHANNESBURG - Eastern Cape authorities are growing increasingly concerned as road crashes in the province continue to claim lives. This was after the Transport Department opened a case of culpable homicide after a driver died in a head-on collision on the R102 between Humansdorp and Tsitsikama on Saturday. Two people who were injured were taken to the hospital. Eastern Cape transport department's spokesperson Makhaya Komisa said, 'The NP200 bakkie belonged to a construction company. The NP200 bakkie was travelling toward Humansdorp, while the grey Suzuki seven-seater was headed in the direction of Tsitsikama when the collision occurred.' In a separate incident, the department has also opened another case of culpable homicide after a fatal incident that claimed two lives on the province's roads. 'The driver of the Toyota Fortuner is among the injured passengers. A case of culpable homicide has been opened at the Jeffreys Bay SAPS [South African Police Service] for further investigation.'
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Nissan considering closing its South African plant, Japanese source says
The Nissan Navara is currently the only product built at the Rosslyn facility. Nissan dropped a bombshell on its workforce last week with the announcement that it planned to expand its 'turnaround plan' to include more plant closures and layoffs than previously envisaged. Following an annual net loss of 671 billion yen (R82 billion), the company announced on Tuesday that it planned to close seven of its 17 factories by fiscal year 2027, while reducing the workforce by around 20,000. Unfortunately, it appears that Nissan's Rosslyn plant in Gauteng could be a casualty of this significant restructure, if the latest international reports are anything to go by. International news agency Reuters, citing a single unnamed source, reported over the weekend that the South African plant was among those being considered for closure by the parent company in Japan. Also facing possible closure are Nissan's plants in India and Argentina, one of its Mexican factories and two Japanese facilities, with the latter also mentioned by a second source. However, Nissan said in a statement that these reports, on the specific plant closures, were speculative and not based on any official information from the company. 'At this time, we will not be providing further comments on this matter," Nissan said. 'We are committed to maintaining transparency with our stakeholders and will communicate any relevant updates as necessary." However, the South African plant does appear to be in a vulnerable position in terms of its volumes, with current production levels averaging around 1,200 units per month in the first four months of 2025. This includes production of the Navara single cab and double cab bakkies for South African consumption and exports into Africa. The Navara is currently the only vehicle produced at Rosslyn, following the discontinuation of the NP200 compact bakkie in 2024, after its Russian-developed replacement was cancelled due to the war with Ukraine. Around that time, a Nissan SA representative told Moneyweb that the company was attempting to source another successor to the NP200 and was also investigating a third model for the Rosslyn plant. Nissan's more aggressive international restructure puts all of these projects in jeopardy, although it's worth keeping in mind that no final decisions appear to have been made with regard to plant closures. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel IOL
The Citizen
25-04-2025
- The Citizen
Man shot on the R555 identified as local businessman
Man shot on the R555 identified as local businessman Two weeks ago, the town was shocked to learn that a beloved businessman was shot and killed on the old Witbank road. The man has been identified as Michael Metsana, who will be laid to rest on Saturday. The father of three was brutally killed on April 14. Also read: Sopas in: Man in moontlike padwoede voorval doodgeskiet He was found in his NP200 with a bullet wound to his right arm and one to the neck below his jaw. His window was smashed, and an empty firearm was found on the scene. The suspects are still at large and the Mpumalanga police said the matter is still under investigation. Do you have information on a news story you think we should cover? Please send an email to our News Editor at daleen@ or phone us on 072 248 3855. To keep updated and informed on all the latest Middelburg news, visit our official social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Formerly Twitter), and YouTube. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
