Volkswagen has achieved a significant milestone at its Kariega factory in South Africa.
The German carmaker’s local division recently announced that its Eastern Cape plant has built its three-millionth vehicle, highlighting a legacy that dates back nearly 75 years.
The first VW was produced at the site all the way back in 1951, though the factory’s history actually goes back a bit further to 1948.
“Though VWGA marks its birthday as 31 August 1951, the date on which the first Volkswagen (a Beetle) rolled off the production line, Plant Kariega has actually been manufacturing vehicles since November 1948,” said the company.
“Under the umbrella of SAMAD (South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors), selected Studebaker and Austin models were built here before the first Volkswagens were added to the production line-up.
Since the days of the Beetle, the company has manufactured 18 different VW and Audi cars across its decades-long history in South Africa, excluding model variants.
The three million vehicles produced at Kariega to date includes the following:
- VW Beetle (1951 – 1979)
- VW Type 2 (1955 – 2002)
- VW Type 3 Sedan, Variant and Fastback (1963 – 1969)
- Audi Super 90 (1968 – 1972)
- VW Type 4 – 411 and 412 Sedan and Variant (1969 – 1974)
- Audi 100 (including Coupe S) to Audi A4 (1972 – 2001)
- Passat sedans, hatchbacks and station wagons (1974 – 1987)
- Audi 80 sedans and station wagons (1975 – 1981)
- VW Fleetline range, Kombi, Panel van, Pickup (1975 – 1978)
- Golf 1 to 5 (1978 – 2009)
- Jetta 1 to 5 (1980 – 2009)
- VW Golf 1 Pickup (1980 – 2007)
- VW Citi Golf (1984 – 2009)
- VW Fox/Trippa (1987 – 1995)
- VW Polo Classic (1996 – 2002)
- VW Polo Playa (1998 – 2002)
- VW Polo range including Cross Polo and Polo Vivo (2002 – 2017)
- VW Polo, including Polo Vivo and Polo GTI (2018 – current)
The model to reach the three-million mark was a grey Polo Vivo – an unsurprising detail given that the Vivo is currently one of the best-selling passenger vehicles in the country alongside the Toyota Corolla Cross and Suzuki Swift.
“This milestone affirms Volkswagen’s legacy in Kariega and the South African market at large,” said Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at VW Group Africa.
“This plant has produced many icons over the past seven decades, including the Beetle, the Citi Golf and now the Vivo, and we intend to make our Tengo the next icon when we start manufacturing it in Kariega from 2027.
“Thank you to everyone who has played a part in shaping the history of our plant and achieving this momentous milestone.”
A new model on the horizon
Kariega currently produces the Polo and Polo Vivo, but the company plans to add a third model to the assembly line in the future.
Earlier this year, VW announced that it would produce an entry-level crossover to regain its footing in South Africa’s affordable car market.
The vehicle in question is the Tera, which is already on sale in Brazil as a more affordable alternative to the brand’s other T-badged SUVs like the T-Cross.
However, VW South Africa opted to give the model a different name, hosting an online platform where citizens could vote on one of four pre-selected names.
The winning name was the Tengo, which is what you can expect to see written on the back of the crossover when it eventually goes on sale here.
Unfortunately, motorists are in for a bit of a wait, as the Tengo is only scheduled to go into local production in 2027.
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