Volkswagen marked 75 years of operations in South Africa in 2026, while also reaching 30 years of Polo production at its Kariega assembly plant in the Eastern Cape. The dual anniversary focused attention on one of the country’s longest-running automotive manufacturing operations and a model that has become central to Volkswagen’s export programme.
Polo production in South Africa began in 1996 with the Polo Classic sedan. Over nearly three decades, Kariega has produced four generations of the model, including the sixth generation introduced in 2021. In October 2025, the 500 000th unit of the current version rolled off the line. More than two million Polos have been built at the plant.
Kariega’s Role in Global Exports
Today, Kariega operates as Volkswagen’s sole global production and export site for the Polo supplied to Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Of the two million units produced, 1 421 960 were exported — roughly 70% of total output. That export share places the facility at the core of Volkswagen’s Polo supply network and reinforces South Africa’s role as a vehicle export base.
GTI Production and Industry Context
South Africa has assembled the Polo GTI for 20 years, with exclusive production at Kariega beginning in 2021. Building the performance variant requires tighter quality control and greater operational precision, adding complexity to the assembly process. To mark the milestone, Volkswagen Group Africa introduced the Polo GTI Edition 20 to the local market.
Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at Volkswagen Group Africa, described the anniversaries as a significant moment in the company’s local history.
“Reaching 75 years in South Africa and 30 years of Polo production is not only a proud milestone for our company, but also for our Kariega plant and our employees,” Schwabe said.
He noted that the record stems from the experience and consistency of the Kariega workforce across domestic and export markets.
These milestones arrive as global automotive manufacturing faces cost pressures and supply chain adjustments. Electrification is accelerating across major markets and reshaping production strategies. While the Polo remains a key export model, future production decisions will depend on global demand patterns and South Africa’s competitiveness within evolving model cycles.
