Chery Group will begin assembling the Omoda C4 at its Rosslyn plant in Pretoria in the third quarter of 2027, with the hybrid model set to be the first version produced locally.
The C4 is expected to arrive in South Africa as an imported model in early 2027, ahead of the start of local assembly. Petrol and battery-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.”
Initially unveiled as the C3 in April 2025, the model was renamed the C4 for South Africa. At 4 424mm long, it sits just below the Omoda C5 in the brand’s local range.
Rosslyn production plans
The C4 will join a wider range of vehicles earmarked for assembly at Rosslyn, including the Chery Tiggo 4, Jaecoo J5, Jetour T-Series and the forthcoming Chery Grootman double-cab bakkie.
Chery acquired the former Nissan facility earlier in 2026 and is currently recommissioning the plant. Production is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027.
The expansion forms part of Chery Group’s move to establish a local manufacturing footprint in South Africa, rather than relying solely on imported vehicles.
Local assembly could also create opportunities for supplier development and employment in Gauteng’s automotive sector, although the announcement did not specify projected job numbers or local content targets.
Hybrid leads the range
The C4’s initial local production will focus on its hybrid electric version, with petrol and fully electric derivatives expected to follow.
The company’s plans reflect a broader push to expand its new-energy vehicle offering in South Africa, although the release provided no pricing or technical specifications for the local C4 range.
Alan Quinn, identified in the announcement as chief innovation and product officer at Cars.co.za, said local production would give South African buyers access to a locally assembled model, with hybrid, petrol and electric options planned.
Further details on pricing, specifications and the timing of the additional derivatives have yet to be announced.
