MISA urges local jobs pledge as Chery takes over Rosslyn plant

MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, has called on Government to ensure that
rising Chinese and Indian investment in South Africa’s motor industry leads to local
manufacturing, secure component jobs and decent work for South Africans.

The call comes as Deputy President Paul Mashatile marks Chery’s acquisition of the
former Nissan plant in Rosslyn, a development MISA says could serve as an
important example for the industry. The union, which is the largest trade union in
South Africa’s retail motor industry, has also made its first formal submission to the
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on behalf of retail motor industry
workers as part of the review of the South African Automotive Masterplan 2035.

MISA says it welcomes the arrival of Chinese and Indian manufacturers, whose
more affordable vehicles have helped drive record sales in the retail motor industry
since September 2025. The union says these brands are widening access to vehicle
ownership and contributing to economic growth, but warns that investment must
deliver meaningful benefits for local workers.

According to MISA, Chery’s takeover of Nissan’s Rosslyn plant shows how a
restructuring process that might otherwise lead to retrenchments can be turned into
a positive outcome. Most of the plant’s approximately 900 employees were retained,
while Chery has projected that around 3,000 jobs could be created once local
production reaches full capacity.

Nissan stopped investing in the plant in 2023 after discontinuing the NP200 half-ton
bakkie, which had been produced at Rosslyn for 16 years. The decision triggered a
major restructuring process and ultimately led to the sale of the historic facility.

“For MISA, this is precisely why welcoming these manufacturers must come with
clear conditions. Government must actively encourage the new entrants to
manufacture vehicles and components locally, rather than simply assembling
imported kits. We are not asking Government to shut anyone out. We are saying
investment must translate into real jobs for South Africans,” said Martlé Keyter,
MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations.

Keyter added that decent work remains non-negotiable. She said the Department of
Employment and Labour’s plan to recruit an additional 10,000 permanent labour
inspectors is now operational across all provinces, strengthening the current
inspectorate of 2,300 officials. Employers should therefore expect regular
inspections to ensure compliance with labour legislation and bargaining council
agreements.

MISA’s submission also calls for a Retail Motor Industry Pillar in the revised
masterplan to help prepare workers for new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence
and digitalisation.

The union says it will continue engaging Government to ensure the revised SAAM
2035 protects the retail motor industry and the workers who sustain it.