VW is planning to build a new compact bakkie that could fill a crucial gap in the South African market.
The German automaker has announced its intention to invest a total of three billion Brazilian Reals (R9.9 billion) into its São José dos Pinhais factory in Brazil in preparation for a new compact pickup truck that will be built there.
Importantly, the bakkie is expected to become an export model, making it a good contender for a South African introduction further down the line.
What South Africa needs
South Africa’s bakkie market took a hit this year when Nissan made the decision to scrap the NP200 – the last compact light commercial vehicle (LCV) on sale.
It’s a vital segment as half-tonne bakkies make for affordable and practical vehicles for smaller businesses, which is evidenced by the fact that the NP200 could easily rack up thousands of purchases each month, putting it in the same sales league as much bigger lifestyle 4x4s like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.
Needless to say, there is a lot of speculation at the moment as to when and where the country’s next small pickup will come from, as there are plenty of potential candidates.
VW South Africa has stated that it plans to expand its Kariega facility in the Eastern Cape in 2026 to produce an affordable SUV alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo hatchbacks, and it suggested that this production line could potentially support a new budget bakkie built on the same platform.
While this project is still years away, there has been a development from the company’s Brazilian branch.
The São José factory is where the T-Cross crossover is built, and it is now planning a massive upgrade that will include the production of a new model called the Tarok.
The Tarok was first shown off as a concept at the São Paulo International Motor Show in 2018, and it is now expected to become the replacement for the ageing Saveiro that is only sold in left-hand-drive markets.
Martina Biene, chairperson and managing director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, previously mentioned that the new SUV it plans to build here is being made in a partnership with Brazil’s division, so there’s a solid chance that the Tarok could be the same bakkie that could ultimately find its way onto local production lines.
The initial concept model was showcased with one of two engines, a 1.4-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, which connect to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
Unfortunately, there’s little concrete information on the pickup’s specs at this point since it’s so early in development, but the company has previously stated that it can carry a payload of up to 750kg in the back.
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