Volkswagen’s Kariega plant has reached a significant milestone the production of 500,000 units of the current Polo generation since the facelift was introduced in 2021.
The half-millionth Polo, finished in Kings Red and destined for Germany, rolled off the line earlier this month, marking another proud chapter in the plant’s nearly three-decade history of Polo production.
“The role of the Polo in the Volkswagen Group Africa success story has been a strong one,” said Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at VWGA.
“I am proud to share in this milestone with the colleagues who build, sell and export this high-quality car to the world.”
Since 1996, the Kariega facility has built almost two million Polos (1,992,464) for both local and international markets. Of the latest model alone, 452,207 have been exported, while 47,793 were delivered to South African customers.
Since July 2024, Kariega has been the sole global exporter of the Polo to Europe and Asia-Pacific, shipping to over 30 countries.
The Polo remains a powerhouse for Volkswagen Group Africa crowned South Africa’s most exported car in 2024 and honoured with Top Local Manufacturer and Top Exported Vehicle of the Year titles at the Naamsa Accelerator Awards.
