Nissan launched its Indian-built Tekton SUV in South Africa after ending more than 50 years of local vehicle manufacturing. Bloomberg/
- Nissan has launched its Indian-built Tekton SUV in South Africa, with prices starting at $20,940.
- The vehicle is Nissan’s first major local launch since it stopped manufacturing and sold its Rosslyn factory to China’s Chery.
- Chinese brands increased their share of South Africa’s passenger-car market from 11.2% to 16.8% in one year.
- The Tekton will test whether Nissan can rebuild sales through imported vehicles after surrendering its local manufacturing base.
The new Tekton starts at 339,999 rand ($20,940), with South Africa becoming its first African market and one of the first countries worldwide to receive the model, according toReuters.
The launch places Nissan in an unusual position. After manufacturing vehicles in South Africa for more than 50 years, it must now rely on an SUV produced in India to compete against Chinese companies that are expanding sales and establishing local production.
That reversal is most visible at Nissan’s former factory in Rosslyn, Pretoria. China’s Chery formally took control of the plant in July and plans to turn it into a manufacturing, export, research and regional operations centre for its African business.
Nissan, meanwhile, has shifted to an import-focused operation as part of a worldwide restructuring programme involving factory closures, job reductions and a smaller vehicle portfolio.
Nissan fights to remain relevant
The five-version Tekton range is aimed at South Africans looking for more affordable SUVs as high living costs weaken the influence of traditional brand loyalty.
DON’T MISS THIS:Nissan exits manufacturing in South Africa as China’s Chery takes over Rosslyn plant
The entry model costs $20,940 (339,999 rand), while the most expensive version is priced at $32,640 (529,999 rand). Nissan is supporting the range with a six-year or 150,000-kilometre warranty.
Nissan Africa President Jordi Vila acknowledged that ending production in South Africa allowed the company to use capacity elsewhere and become more competitive.
“Unfortunately, we had to stop the activity of manufacturing in South Africa. We’re maximising capacity in other plants, and that makes us more competitive, which hopefully we see in the vehicles we bring,” Mr Vila said at the launch.
China’s Chery took control of Nissan’s former Rosslyn factory and plans to begin producing vehicles there in 2027.Feature China/Barcroft Media
He described the Tekton as a vehicle designed to help South Africans reconnect with a brand that was once a major part of the country’s motoring industry.
DON’T MISS THIS:Chinese auto giant Chery takes control of former Nissan plant, creating nearly 3,000 jobs in South Africa
The company has also introduced a new X-Trail in South Africa and plans to launch an upgraded Navara pick-up and the eighth-generation Patrol SUV during the current financial year. More models are expected from next year.
The strategy is intended to reassure customers and dealers that Nissan is not abandoning South Africa simply because it has stopped building cars there.
China changes South Africa’s car market
However, Nissan is returning to a market that has changed significantly.
Chinese manufacturers increased their share of South Africa’s passenger-car market from 11.2% in 2024 to 16.8% in 2025, according to data from industry body naamsa. The number of Chinese brands operating in the country almost doubled from eight to 15.
Their growth has been driven largely by competitively priced SUVs, generous warranties and technology that was previously available mainly in more expensive vehicles.
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The wider import market illustrates the pressure on traditional manufacturers. India supplied 56.2% of South Africa’s imported light vehicles in 2025, while China accounted for 23.3%.
Nissan is therefore using India, the country already responsible for more than half of South Africa’s imported light vehicles, to defend its position against Chinese companies.
Chery takes over where Nissan stopped
Chery retained all 692 employees at the former Nissan factory and expects its investment to create nearly 3,000 direct and indirect jobs across manufacturing, supply chains and related services.
The Chinese company plans to begin production in mid-2027, initially making SUVs including the Jetour T1, Jaecoo J5 and Chery Tiggo 4.
It expects to produce 15,000 vehicles during the initial ramp-up and is targeting more than 100,000 annual vehicle sales in South Africa over the longer term. Chery also wants to raise local content to 40%.
For Nissan, the Tekton is consequently more than another SUV launch. It is a test of whether an established Japanese brand can retain customers through imported vehicles while the Chinese rival that bought its factory builds a permanent industrial base in the country.
