Sthembiso Lebuso
Chery Group South Africa will begin assembling the Omoda C4 at its Rosslyn plant in Pretoria in the third quarter of 2027, with the hybrid version set to be the first derivative produced locally.
The compact crossover is expected to arrive in South Africa as an imported model in early 2027, ahead of local assembly ramping up later in the year. Petrol and fully electric versions are planned for introduction at a later stage.
“The first roll-out plan for Omoda at the Rosslyn plant will be the Omoda C4 hybrid,” said Tony Liu, CEO of Chery Group South Africa. “The C4 is the latest Omoda on our newest platform. We will also have hybrid and BEV versions, with the BEV version and petrol derivative introduced at a later stage.”
The C4 will form part of Chery Group’s broader plan to establish a local manufacturing operation at Rosslyn, the former Nissan facility acquired earlier in 2026.
The plant is being recommissioned, with production scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027.
Alan Quinn, Chief Innovation and Product Officer at Cars.co.za, said local assembly would expand Omoda’s offering in the country. “The Omoda C4 brings Omoda’s newest platform and design language to South Africa, and building it at Rosslyn allows us to offer customers a more accessible, locally assembled product,” Quinn said.
“With hybrid, petrol and electric versions planned, the C4 will give South African buyers greater choice as the market continues to evolve.”
Initially unveiled as the C3 in April 2025, the model was renamed the C4 for the South African market. It will slot below the Omoda C5 and measures 4 424 mm in length, making it slightly longer than its sibling.
The decision to begin local production with the hybrid derivative places electrified vehicles at the centre of Omoda’s initial manufacturing plans in South Africa. The company has not yet provided technical specifications or pricing for the locally assembled C4.
The eventual addition of petrol and battery-electric versions is expected to broaden the model’s appeal, giving buyers a choice of powertrains within the same range.
The C4 will join other models planned for assembly at Rosslyn, including the Chery Tiggo 4, Jaecoo J5, Jetour T-Series and the forthcoming Chery Grootman double-cab bakkie.
The expansion marks a shift for Chery Group South Africa from relying primarily on imported vehicles towards local production.
The move is also expected to create opportunities for employment and supplier development in Gauteng’s automotive sector as operations at Rosslyn progress.