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Nissan’s bold African pivot: growth strategy defies Pretoria plant closure
Nissan says it will continue investing in South Africa and the broader African region, despite the restructuring that saw it sell the Rosslyn Plant to Chinese manufacturer, Chery.
The plant was responsible for producing the Nissan Navara range for local consumption and export to Africa.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Nissan Vision Event in Yokohama, Japan, Nissan president and CEO Ivan Espinosa said the decision to reduce production capacity, including in South Africa, formed part of a wider effort to stabilise the business.
“As you know, we restructured the manufacturing footprint from 17 to 10 plants. This was unfortunately the hard medicine that our company needed in order to ensure sustainability,” he said.
“It’s a decision that touched people’s lives and communities, but for the long-term sustainability of the company, we had to do it.”
Despite that, Espinosa confirmed the region remains part of their strategy.
“We will continue investing in South Africa and in Africa in general. We’re going to bring more products, and there are some other products that will continue coming.”
Nissan Chief Performance Officer Guillaume Cartier added that the continent remains an opportunity.
“For us, Africa is an opportunity. “If you look at the total market, it’s not big, about 1.3 million units, but the population is large, and motorisation is still low.”
He added that South Africa was a key market. “South Africa is the number one African market by far; it represents 30 to 40% of Africa. So it’s important, and it remains important.”
Nissan says it will continue investing in South Africa and the broader African region, despite the restructuring that saw it sell the Rosslyn Plant to Chinese manufacturer, Chery.
The plant was responsible for producing the Nissan Navara range for local consumption and export to Africa.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Nissan Vision Event in Yokohama, Japan, Nissan president and CEO Ivan Espinosa said the decision to reduce production capacity, including in South Africa, formed part of a wider effort to stabilise the business.
“As you know, we restructured the manufacturing footprint from 17 to 10 plants. This was unfortunately the hard medicine that our company needed in order to ensure sustainability,” he said.
“It’s a decision that touched people’s lives and communities, but for the long-term sustainability of the company, we had to do it.”
Despite that, Espinosa confirmed the region remains part of their strategy.
“We will continue investing in South Africa and in Africa in general. We’re going to bring more products, and there are some other products that will continue coming.”
Nissan Chief Performance Officer Guillaume Cartier added that the continent remains an opportunity.
“For us, Africa is an opportunity. “If you look at the total market, it’s not big, about 1.3 million units, but the population is large, and motorisation is still low.”
He added that South Africa was a key market. “South Africa is the number one African market by far; it represents 30 to 40% of Africa. So it’s important, and it remains important.”
