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

Top 10 Best-Selling Automotive Brands Locally – April 2024

Image
Following eight consecutive months of sales decline, the milestone of celebrating a century of vehicle production locally saw a welcomed increase in the motor industry for April 2024. Have a look at the data below, which sees Toyota drop in sales but retain the top spot, with Suzuki moving into second and Nissan dropping to the bottom of the list without the NP200 rolling off of the production line. Image: Toyota Looking for your next new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag! South Africa is marking 2024 as a significant year for its automotive industry, celebrating 100 years of car manufacturing. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa , the country’s automotive business council, commented, “As the sun rises on a century of automotive innovation, South Africa proudly commemorates a century of automobile manufacturing excellence. This milestone reflects a journey of resilience, ingenuity, and passion that has shaped the nation’s automotive legacy.” Details on how the industry will commem...
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