Chery has confirmed that the Tiggo 4 Cross will be the first model to roll off its newly acquired line in Rosslyn.
Image: Supplied
Automotive company, Chery South Africa, has announced on Thursday that it plans to begin local production of the Tiggo 4 Cross in 2027.
This comes after the Chinese company aqcuired a local manufacturing plant from Nissan South Africa and recently launched the facility earlier this month.
Chinese automotive brands have reshaped South Africa’s vehicle market, capturing nearly one in every five new passenger and light commercial vehicle sales and has emerged as one of the most significant competitive forces in the country’s automotive sector.
While traditional manufacturers continue to hold a significant share of the market, the rapid expansion of Chinese brands signals a structural change in South Africa’s automotive landscape.
According to TransUnion’s Q1 2026 Mobility Insights Report, Chinese vehicle sales surged by 75% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, dramatically outpacing the 12.7% growth recorded by the broader passenger and light commercial vehicle market and the 2% growth achieved by traditional original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
With Chery South Africa's Tiggo 4 range selling 11,322 units in the country between January and June 2026, the company said it plans for local production scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027.
Both internal-combustion-engine (ICE) and hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) derivatives are planned for production at the facility, placing Chery’s highest-volume model line at the centre of its transition from vehicle importer to local manufacturer.
The decision follows a strong first half of 2026 for the Tiggo 4 range, which comprises the Tiggo 4 Pro and Tiggo Cross.
The company said that its local production will allow Chery to build on demand while developing a manufacturing programme around a model already well established among South African motorists.
The Tiggo 4 Cross will be the first vehicle to roll off the Chery Rosslyn production line during the plant’s initial ramp-up phase in the third and fourth quarters of 2027.
A planned production total of 15,000 units has been set for this period, with further growth expected as operations mature.
Final derivative specifications, production volumes and market-introduction details will be announced closer to the start of local manufacturing.
The Rosslyn plant, which has been operating as an automotive manufacturing facility since 1963, will undergo upgrades to its facilities, equipment and utilities in preparation for Chery production.
“At Chery, we live by one philosophy: ‘In Somewhere, For Somewhere, Be Somewhere.’ It means wherever we invest, we commit. We become part of the local economy, part of the community and part of the country’s future,” said Yin Tongyue, Chairman, President and founder of Chery Automobile Co., at the plant’s opening.
“Today proves that commitment. We have moved from being an importer to a manufacturer — and from a market participant to a long-term partner in South Africa’s industrial story.”
Chery committed to retaining all 692 employees currently associated with the Rosslyn operation, preserving decades of local automotive manufacturing experience.
The project is also expected to create nearly 3,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities across manufacturing, logistics, the supply chain and supporting services.
The company has begun an extensive localisation programme and is engaging with Tier-1 suppliers as it works towards its local-content targets for 2028. The programme is intended to expand the domestic supplier network, create opportunities for South African component manufacturers and support the transfer and development of technical skills.
Over the longer term, Chery plans to develop Rosslyn into a broader automotive and industrial hub encompassing production, research and development, supply chain operations, and skills development.
The investment also supports the company’s ambition to establish South Africa as a base for its manufacturing, export and operational activities across the African continent.
Alongside preparations for Tiggo 4 Cross production, Chery said that feasibility studies are underway to determine whether a light commercial vehicle, including a bakkie, could be considered for local production at a later stage.
The studies will assess factors including South African and regional demand, the business case for production, plant requirements and the readiness of the local supplier network. No decision has yet been made on the addition of a light commercial vehicle to the Rosslyn production programme.
Vehicles produced at Rosslyn will also benefit from the Chery Family Care ownership offering, including the Trans-national Warranty Programme introduced in 2026.
Subject to the original warranty agreement and applicable market regulations, customers can obtain warranty-related support from authorised Chery service centres in countries where the brand has an official presence.
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