Confirmed: SA to Become Sole VW Polo Manufacturer Worldwide

Already responsible for all Polo GTI production, VWSA’s Kariega Plant outside of Gqeberha (formally Port Elizabeth) is poised to assume the role of sole global production hub for Volkswagen’s top-selling hatch batch. 

Polo

Image: Volkswagen

Looking for a new or used Polo? Find it here with CARmag.

Already a hive of activity on any given day, Volkswagen South Africa’s Kariega Plant is about to get even busier with both an all-new so-called “third model” that is set to be added to the production line, and the imminent announcement that this facility will assume sole responsibility for the supply of the Polo Hatch to all relevant global markets, including left- and right-hand drive.

Related: Volkswagen Kariega Hits 1.5M Export Vehicles Milestone

Volkswagen’s Pamplona Plant in Spain has ceased production of Polo to tool up for a future all-electric ID. model, meaning all versions of the still-popular Polo Hatch will now be assembled and shipped from Kariega. The largest current market for the Polo remains Germany.

Already the sole supplier of the Polo GTI, chairperson and managing director of the newly formed Volkswagen Group Africa, Martina Biene, has lauded the trust placed in the Kariega Plant and, in turn, has set a target of achieving a new production record in terms of vehicles produced here in the year. This also includes a Polo Vivo for the SA market. Currently one out of every five vehicles that leaves this production line is a Vivo.

Of course, any production record is reliant on an uninterrupted supply of energy being fed into the plant. While Kariega is only affected by load-shedding once this break in supply reaches so-called Stage 5 and above, Biene admits that given its new mandate, the assembly line simply cannot take the risk of losing a day’s worth of production (it takes the plant 24 hours to get back up to optimal operation after a power cut). To this end, Volkswagen South Africa has installed a backup generator station capable of delivering 16 megawatts of power on demand. Leased for R130 million, it will cost in the region of R1.6 million per day to run.

Related: Volkswagen Invests Massively for Sustainability Drive at Kariega

Biene confirmed that Polo will still play a key role in the VW Group until at least 2029, with the ever-changing landscape of regulations around internal combustion engines meaning this could well be extended. In the meantime, the introduction of the as-yet-unnamed, Polo-based “third model” is exciting as it is the first “Africa-developed” product for the brand, with no export expectations other than into the continent.

Browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag.

The post Confirmed: SA to Become Sole VW Polo Manufacturer Worldwide appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Topical tips on buying used – Chapter 1

Image
Buying a used car can be harrowing, whether privately or from a dealer. Here are some tips, as well as some things to watch out for. Beware of low mileages, especially on smaller or cheaper cars. It is always possible that the odometer has been turned back. Some things to bear in mind are:- diesels are often bought because they the driver needs to undertake long trips without consuming vast amounts of fuel. This could be a sales rep, or someone travelling large distances to work, lots of lengthy trip for family holidays, etc. So, usually higher mileages than normal. An expensive or luxury car may not see much time on the road, but very seldom a “workhorse”. This makes the executive cars likely to have a lot more life left than the overworked and abused hatchback. These also spend most of their life in a home garage or undercover parking lot at work. Related: Someone paid more for a mint BMW 325iS Evo 2 than a used M4 A vehicle without any service history is a serious disadvantage
Read more

Like Lego? Then the R8-engined Rhino RR01 Kit Car From Lithuania is For You

Image
The Rhino RR01 is presented as an affordable Audi R8-engined supercar that’s both street-legal and geared for the track, here’s all you need to know about the new model.  Image: Rhino Looking for your next sportscar? Find it here with CARmag.  This groundbreaking vehicle is the inaugural supercar hailing from the Baltic state of Lithuania, born and crafted in Kaunas, 100 km away from the capital city of Vilnius. Surprisingly, it was conceived by yacht engineers who had minimal experience in the automotive world by painstakingly developing the car from scratch. All monocoque design, chassis, bodywork, interior, and electronics were done by themselves. While the prototype borrowed the engine from an ‘Audi R8’, the ‘Kit Car’ model offers the freedom to install various engines, allowing drivers to experience the thrill of a racing car on both roads and tracks. Image: Rhino Lithuania has contributed individual components to major car manufacturers, but until now, the country had ne
Read more

Could this teased Lancia sports car be a reborn Stratos?

Image
Lancia recently teased a coupe-looking model, waiting to be unveiled in their Multiverse. Could this then, signify the return of a historic moniker like the Stratos to the struggling automaker? Image: Lancia #MakeLanciaGreatAgain – a social media phrase that has been making the rounds for the better part of a decade. World Rally Championship titles, Formula 1 single-seat winners and some other gems in between. The Italian automaker litters dates in history and motorsport, with some truly revolutionary ideas and models that aided their bid to become one of the most successful motorsport manufacturers of all time. But that is all in the past. Lancia now contends sole markets with a platform-shared model but there have been ambitious plans under Stellantis ownership to kick-start the automaker and make them great again… words that delight so many enthusiasts and aficionados. Related: Automobili Amos debut Martini Racing Livery Lancia Delta and Safarista What better way to do this th
Read more