VW South Africa has ended the year with a bang, achieving an incredible milestone at its Kariega Manufacturing Plant in the Eastern Cape.
The company managed to produce a staggering 167,084 vehicles in 2024 – an all-time record for the local facility.
A big win for VW
VW is one of the oldest automakers in South Africa, with its history dating back all the way to 1951 when the famous VW Beetle first made its way off the assembly floor in the Eastern Cape.
More than 73 years later, the extensively-updated facility managed to create over 167,000 vehicles in a single year, surpassing the brand’s previous record of 161,954 units.
The carmaker achieved this previous record in 2019, meaning that production levels have rebounded since the Covid-19 pandemic and are now stronger than ever – a positive sign for the industry as a whole.
“This milestone must be attributed to the dedication and diligence of our 4,000 employees and the unwavering support of our customers and stakeholders,” said Ulrich Schwabe, VWGA Production Director.
“As we continue to expand our footprint both locally and globally, we remain focused on innovation, sustainability, and delivering quality products which meet the needs of our diverse markets.”
VW’s Eastern Cape factory
Of the 167,084 examples produced, 131,485 were Polos exported to over 30 international markets, while the remaining 35,599 cars were Polos and Polo Vivos destined for South African showrooms.
This enormous production cycle is not without merit, either, as the Polo Vivo and Polo are the 1st and 12th best-selling vehicles in the country, respectively.
VW’s continued success in South Africa means that the company is continuing to expand its business, with plans to invest R4 billion towards a new assembly line that will eventually produce a third model alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo from 2027 onwards.
Kariega is also important for VW’s global ventures as it is now the sole supplier of the Polo for the European and Asia Pacific markets, including its hot hatch GTI form.
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