Chery Tiggo Cross to Be Built in South Africa from 2027: What It Means for Local Car Buyers

Chery South Africa has confirmed that it will begin manufacturing the Tiggo Cross at its newly acquired Rosslyn plant near Pretoria from 2027, marking a landmark moment for both the Chinese automaker and the South African automotive industry. This will make the Tiggo Cross the first Chinese-brand SUV to be locally assembled in South Africa, a development that has significant implications for pricing, job creation, and the country's growing role as an automotive manufacturing hub.

The Rosslyn facility, formerly used by BMW, gives Chery the production capacity it needs to support its ambitious growth targets in South Africa and potentially serve as an export base for the broader African and right-hand-drive markets. Local production typically allows manufacturers to reduce the impact of import duties and currency fluctuations on retail pricing, which could ultimately make the Tiggo Cross more competitively priced compared to fully imported rivals. South African buyers of Chinese brands have sometimes faced price volatility linked to rand weakness, and local assembly could provide greater stability.

The Tiggo Cross slots into the highly competitive compact SUV segment, going up against established players like the Toyota Fortuner, Haval H6, and Kia Sportage. Chery has already built a strong reputation in South Africa through its Tiggo range, and the prospect of a locally built model is likely to resonate positively with buyers and fleet operators who value South African content. The move also supports the country's Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP), which incentivises local vehicle manufacturing.

For South African car buyers, the news means that the Tiggo Cross could become an even more attractive option in 2027 and beyond, potentially with locally adjusted pricing and faster parts availability. In the meantime, Chery's current imported range is available through a growing dealer network. Head to MotorGrid to browse Chery listings from dealers in your area and get a feel for what the brand offers before the locally built models arrive.