VW Celebrates 2-Millionth Polo Produced at Plant Kariega in SA

The two-millionth Polo has rolled off Volkswagen’s Kariega production plant in South Africa.

Grey Polo Kariega Plant

Image: Volkswagen

Following the 500 000th current-generation Polo and three-millionth car built at Volkswagen’s Kariega plant, Volkswagen Group Africa is celebrating the production of the two-millionth Polo at its Eastern Cape-based assembly facility – a milestone achieved a year ahead of 30 years of Polo production in South Africa.

The Polo, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, has been produced at Volkswagen’s Kariega production plant since 1996, for both local consumption and overseas markets. The two-millionth Polo that rolled off the assembly line earlier this month is destined for Australia, and of the two million Polos produced in South Africa, 1 407 160 have been exported overseas.

As of July 2024, Plant Kariega is the only Volkswagen plant to produce the Polo for Europe and Asia-Pacific regions, which include more than 30 countries. In 2024, the Polo was South Africa’s most exported car. This year, Plant Kariega has produced 112 386 Polos, with 8 274 of those being Polo GTIs.

The Polo Classic was the first Polo produced locally, with 5 460 units built in 1996 alone. Since then, four generations of the German automaker’s popular hatchback have been produced at this assembly plant. Noteworthy, the Wolfsburg automaker has confirmed to us that the SA-built Polo will remain in production into the next decade.

Said Ulrich Schwabe, VWGA Production Director, “It has been a year of milestones for Plant Kariega, but achieving this one is a very proud moment for the ‘Home of Polo’. Contributing to the global success story of the Polo is a privilege for our team, and this is evident in the dedication of our employees, who have made this milestone possible.”

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