The communications officer of Nissan Africa, Ramy Mohareb, emphasized that the company has no place in the country following the sale of its factory in Pretoria which was bought by Chery South Africa.
Nissan has been producing in South Africa for years at its factory in Rosslyn. This is where the Navara van was built. In the past, the NP200 was built and in the past years, the 1400 was also built.
Mohareb said they will end Navara production at the end of June.
“If you remember correctly, we had the NP200 and there was going to be a car to take its place but it was withdrawn. We had built our plans on this car but because of international politics and the war between Russia and Ukraine, we stopped that car. From then on we tried to find another one that would be a small van, that didn’t happen and that’s why we decided to stop. We decided not to just sell the firm but we made sure that we transfer many of our employees,” said Ramy.
Jetour has confirmed that it will produce the T1 and T2 SUVs at this plant. Chery will announce at an event scheduled for June how much it will invest and which cars it will build. Its CEO, Tony Liu, recently told this newspaper that they will also leave the van manufacturing line.
Mohareb said that they have opened an opportunity for the workers who want to leave and go with the benefits.
He said that they will continue to sell the Navara when they stop producing it in this country as they will then import it from Thailand.
He did not want to reveal how this will affect the price except that there may be a review of what they are doing.
This official confirmed that South Africa is an important market for Nissan.
“We have a history of about 65 years. We will continue to be successful in the years to come. The Navara will always be the best car for us in South Africa.”
He said they will continue to introduce new cars and have many garages. Some of the cars they will introduce this year are the small SUV Tekton which will fit in above the Magnite. It will be a competitor of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.
He also said that in their financial year which started in March to March next year they plan to launch a new Patrol. He went on to say that they will improve the other cars they are currently selling.
When asked if they had ever thought of bringing back their company Infiniti which was sold in the country in the past years, he said he did not want to comment at the moment except that they are looking at many cars.
Ramy was speaking to this newspaper when he was in Mhlanga on Monday where they were introducing Sharks players as their ambassadors. He said that is proof that they are not going anywhere.
They appointed Aphelele Fassi and Jordan Hendrikse to drive the Navara Pro 4X.
Aphelele, who plays with MaBhokobhoko, said this car will make it easier to travel even on dirt.
“I am starting a van but here in life it is said that everything has a beginning. I am happy and grateful that they chose me as their ambassador.”
The player who hails from Qonce, Eastern Cape, said he will help him when he goes home because the roads are not good.
“We need a car like this. I remember when my friend got married and I got stuck. Things like that cannot happen when you travel with an animal like this,” said Aphelele.