Jetour confirms local production of T-Series from 2027
The local automotive scene is having a moment. Hot on the heels of Chinese marque Chery’s acquisition of the Nissan Rosslyn manufacturing plant a couple of months ago, Jetour has confirmed that it will begin producing its T-Series range from 2027.
The announcement was made at this year’s Beijing Auto Show, formerly known as Auto China, by Jetour International President Ke Chuandeng. The Jetour brand, while positioned separately in South Africa, is closely related to Chery and marketed as a value-focused manufacturer. According to Chuandeng, the T1 and T2 SUV models, which have sold over 4,500 4,500 units since their introduction in November last year, will be among the first to be produced in Tshwane. It’s also reported that Chery plans to produce four models at the plant.
That said, the Chery Group intends to manufacture 50,000 units annually and create over 3,000 jobs across manufacturing and supply chain sectors.
“This is undoubtedly a very exciting time for Jetour. In just 18 months since launching independently in South Africa, we have introduced four internal combustion models and two PHEV models, with further upgrades and new models planned for this year and next. This latest step into local production really marks a significant next phase in our journey,” said Nic Campbell, Vice President of Jetour SA.
Speaking to TopGear SA at the brand’s headquarters in Wuhu, Chery SA CEO Tony Liu stated that the investment plan for SA will be announced in June, and the brand remains committed to the local market. This is good news for SA, especially since the majority of Nissan SA’s employees will be offered employment by Chery SA on substantially similar terms and conditions to those in place today.
For the local market, the bigger picture here is hard to ignore. A plant that went quiet when Nissan wound down local production is about to come back to life, and with it, thousands of jobs and what feels like a genuine commitment from a global automotive group that clearly sees long-term value in this market.
