South Africa Becomes China’s Detroit. BYD, Chery and BAIC Rewrite the Rules of the Auto Market
3,000 new jobs from Chery, 50,000 vehicles per year by 2027, charging stations from BYD and a challenge to Western brands
This is according to a CCTV+ report from South Africa (May 13, 2026).
South Africa is becoming a strategic hub for China’s automotive industry in Africa. Chinese automakers are expanding their global manufacturing presence, including the African continent.
As companies like BYD and Chery increase their presence in Africa, there is a shift from mere consumption to production. This is creating challenges for traditional global brands. The South African market is already shifting from Western and Japanese brands to rapidly growing Chinese ones.
BAIC led the push of Chinese manufacturing into South Africa back in 2016. Since then, investment has surged. Chery, one of China’s top three passenger car manufacturers, took a bold step by acquiring Nissan’s struggling plant in Pretoria. This could potentially create 3,000 new jobs.
Rodney Genga, Professor of Materials Science and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, noted: “They anticipate that by 2027, when everything is up and running, they will be producing at least 50,000 units per year.
That’s not bad. It creates opportunities, creates jobs, and also helps develop related industries — whether it’s the tire industry, auto parts manufacturers or auxiliary industries. That’s a huge advantage that instills confidence in this sector.”
BYD, the world’s largest manufacturer of new energy vehicles, is also strengthening its position in South Africa. Although local production is not yet planned, the company is contributing to the transition to greener mobility.
Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD, stated: “We need to invest in dealerships. There need to be very strong, high-quality dealerships here. This will indirectly help create around 2,000 jobs. And secondly, we will invest in charging infrastructure. That is very important. I think we need such a foundation for our next step.”
This confidence resonates at the local level as well. South Africans are beginning to expect larger investments from Chinese automakers. Genga added: “If we cooperate properly with China, which today is the world’s largest country in terms of renewable energy vehicle industrialization, and strategically cooperate in investing in any new technologies being developed here, we will become co-developers with a clear focus on the region.”
South Africa was once the gateway for European and Japanese cars. Now that gateway is turning east. Chinese brands are not just selling cars — they are building factories, training people, laying charging stations. And they are doing it as if they plan to stay for a long time. The question is not whether they will displace competitors. The question is whether Western and Japanese giants will respond in time, before Chinese auto plants fill every corner of the space. The race has just begun. But the first meters already belong to China.
