Name of the Project
Nissan all-new Navara production project.

Location
Rosslyn, in Pretoria, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Auto manufacturer Nissan South Africa (SA).

Project Description
Nissan is preparing its Rosslyn facility to produce the next-generation Nissan Navara pickup, including the single-cab, double-cab and cab-and-a-half variants of the model.

The Navara will join the NP200 and NP300 models, which are built at Rosslyn, and sold in the domestic market and up to 45 Pan-African countries.

The investment in Navara production will result in further modernisation of the Rosslyn plant, including a new, flexible production line and additional facilities.

Depending on market conditions, it is expected that Navara’s arrival will add 30 000 units to Rosslyn’s current production volume of 35 000 a year, creating the need for a second shift at the plant.

Potential Job Creation
The project will train and upskill staff, and create about 1 200 new jobs directly at the facility and across the local supply chain.

Capital Expenditure
R3-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Nissan SA will delay the start of volume production and sales of the Nissan Navara one-ton bakkie to June 2021, owing to operational issues associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The original launch date of the Navara was the first quarter of 2021.

Latest Developments
As Nissan SA works to recover from its operational constraints, production should reach about 35 000 units in the 2021 financial year, Nissan SA marketing director Stefan Haasbroek has estimated.

The first Navara trial units have rolled off the production line at the Rosslyn plant.

The local-parts content on the vehicle is currently at about 50%, with the aim to increase this as production reaches maturity.

The local arm of the Japanese manufacturer is working to secure Navara export markets outside Africa.

The Navara will be produced alongside the NP200 half-ton bakkie. The NP300 one-ton bakkie has, however, come to the end of its production life. The production of this model at the Rosslyn plant will most likely end in November.

Nissan SA will, however, continue to support NP300 customers for another ten years.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Nissan South Africa corporate affairs director Wonga Mesatywa, tel +27 12 529 6632 or email wongam@nissan.co.za.