VW has achieved yet another record in South Africa with export numbers reaching an all-time high.
The automaker revealed that it sent a staggering 131,485 vehicles overseas in 2024, indicating that there is still strong demand for South African-produced models.
A big win for VW
VW’s factory in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) in the Eastern Cape has been exporting vehicles since 1992 and manufacturing the Polo hatchback since 1996.
The site achieved its previous export record in 2019 when it shipped off 108,422 units, meaning the new figure has shattered the old record by a commendable 23,063 units.
Importantly, the previous number was obtained the year before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, which subsequently led to a severe drop in consumer spending and global production.
The new record, therefore, indicates that the market and supply chain has finally bounced back to pre-pandemic levels – and that VW will hopefully be able to keep up the momentum with even better numbers by the end of this year.
VW’s South African factory is in a unique position to make this happen, too, as it is now the sole exporter of the Polo anywhere in the world.
Much of this is due to the global shift towards SUVs, which has made hatchbacks like the Polo far less popular than they used to be, but it is also the result of various government restrictions pushing the automotive industry towards more environmentally friendly transport solutions.
As a result, Volkswagen has shut down all of its other Polo production lines around the globe to refocus its efforts on other nameplates such as its ID. line of electric cars, but there is evidently still a demand for a reasonably affordable B-segment hatch.
Consequently, VW South Africa is still making the Polo at Kariega, which is then sent off to 38 different markets, predominantly in Europe and Asia Pacific.
In fact, the German hatch accounts for approximately 88% of vehicles passing through the harbour in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), bearing in mind that Isuzu, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz also have operations in the province.
Of course, the Polo is also a big hit within our borders, as it was a top seller in 2024 with a total of 12,253 purchases.
“The strong position of the Polo locally and abroad sets Volkswagen Group Africa for a good year, just in time for the 50th anniversary of this beloved car,” said the company.
“Since 1975, more than 20 million Polos spanning six generations of the vehicle have been sold worldwide, and the Polo is considered one of the most successful models in its class.”
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