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Africa|Automotive|Building|Business|Export|generation
Africa|Automotive|Building|Business|Export|generation
africa|automotive|building|business|export|generation

VW's Plant Kariega builds 500 000th Polo

20th October 2025

By: Schalk Burger

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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Automotive manufacturer Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) says its Plant Kariega, in the Eastern Cape, has built 500 000 units of the latest iteration of the popular VW Polo, since the introduction of the facelift of the car in 2021.

Specifically, the 500 000th Polo, which is a Kings Red Polo in the new facelift model, is bound for the brand’s home country of Germany, and rolled off the production line in Kariega earlier in October.

Plant Kariega has been building Polos steadily since 1996, and the current facelift-version since August 2021.

Since July 2024, this plant is also the sole exporter of the Polo for the Europe and Asia-Pacific markets, and exports these vehicles to more than 30 countries in addition to its strong presence in the South African market, the company says.

Additionally, of the 500 000 latest generation Polos built, 452 207 were built for export and the remaining 47 793 vehicles sold in South Africa.

More than 1.99-million Polos have been built in Kariega in the past 29 years, VWGA adds.

The VW Polo was also South Africa’s most exported car in 2024, and was named as the Vehicle of the Year, Top Local Manufacturer and the Top Exported Vehicle of the Year at the naamsa | The Automotive Business Council Accelerator Awards.

“The Polo has played a role in the Volkswagen Group Africa success story, and the same can be said of its contribution to this country’s automotive exports. I am proud to share this milestone with colleagues who build and export this high-quality car to the world,” says VWGA production director Ulrich Schwabe.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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